Decision 42 COM 7A.30

Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic) (C 21)

Note: the following reports on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic need to be read in conjunction with Item 36.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 41 COM 7A.44 and 41 COM 7A.50, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Taking into account Decision 42 COM 7A.36 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
4. Expresses its great concern at the impact of the armed conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis and irreversible destruction within the property, including of whole neighborhoods;
5. Recalls its request that humanitarian and security actions be done in coordination with cultural heritage stakeholders, to avoid further irreversible damages to the property, and allow for undertaking of first aid measures on its cultural heritage;
6. Reiterates its deep concern about the instability of buildings within the property and urges the State Party to undertake a detailed risk assessment and emergency consolidation works for the concerned structures in order to guarantee the safety of the inhabitants;
7. Notes the efforts mobilized by the State Party for the recovery of Aleppo since December 2016 and encourages it to continue its efforts in documenting and assessing damages and carrying out emergency interventions, despite the extremely difficult situation;
8. Also encourages the State Party to implement the actions agreed upon at the technical coordination meeting organized by UNESCO in March 2017, and to allow sufficient time for the development of integrated strategic plans for the rehabilitation and revitalization of the property in its broader urban context, in line with the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011) and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
9. Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
10. Requests that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission be carried to proceed to a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay and ensure the conservation and protection of the property, as soon as the security situation allows;
11. Further encourages the State Party to finalize the minor boundary modification proposal for the property and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2019, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019;
12. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019;
13. Decides to retain the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.