The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.30 and 42 COM 7A.36, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
- Taking into account Decision 43 COM 7A.37, on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic,
- Expresses its great concern at the impact of the armed conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis and irreversible destruction within the property, including of entire neighborhoods;
- Reiterates its deep concern about the instability of buildings within the property and urges the State Party to undertake a detailed risk assessment for structures most at risk, and undertake necessary emergency measures in order to enhance the safety of inhabitants;
- Notes the efforts mobilized by the State Party for the recovery of Aleppo since December 2016, encourages it to continue its efforts in documenting and assessing damages and carrying out emergency interventions defined in the Emergency Plan, despite the extremely difficult situation and commends the commitment of the local community who volunteer for the rehabilitation of historical buildings;
- Welcomes the Strategic document entitled “Vision and Planning Framework” and also encourages the State Party to implement its priority actions “in particular the development of a Reconstruction and Recovery Master Plan and an updated Management Plan for the property, and recommends that these should be developed in line with the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011) and be carried out in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
- Calls on all UNESCO Member States to support emergency safeguarding and recovery measures outlined in the Strategic document entitled “Vision and Planning Framework”, within the framework the Emergency Plan and the Recovery Plan 2018-2020 elaborated by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM), and also activities carried out through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
- Reiterates its request that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission should take place as soon as the situation allows, in order to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to ensure the conservation and protection of the property even as rehabilitation and infrastructure development works are carried out in other parts of the city;
- Further encourages the State Party to finalize the Minor Boundary Modification proposal for the property, in line with Paragraphs 163-164 of the Operational Guidelines, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2020, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
- Decides to retain the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.