The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.37 adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
- Commends the Ministry of Culture and the General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities in Yemen (GOPHCY), other local actors and the communities of Zabid for their ongoing efforts to document, protect and conserve the property, despite the very difficult conditions, and also commends all parties involved in the training programmes that have been conducted in Jordan and through the Centre for Architectural Training and Studies;
- Expresses its continuing concern at the damage to the cultural heritage of the Historic Town of Zabid as a result of ongoing armed conflict, and that the property continues to be threatened by the current security situation, ongoing social change and continuing lack of organisational support and resources for both heritage management and physical conservation;
- Encourages the State Party to continue its collaboration with the UNESCO Doha Office in the implementation of the “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen” project;
- Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on short-term repair and conservation works, and to contribute to the development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), as soon as the security situation in Yemen has improved;
- Urges all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and to fulfil their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, in particular the safeguarding of properties on the World Heritage List and those included on the Tentative List of Yemen, and also encourages all concerned stakeholders to unite for the preservation of cultural heritage in Yemen;
- Reiterates its previous calls for the international community to provide technical and financial support, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, for the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO expert meeting in July 2015, including funding for capacity building and first-aid restoration and protection measures, and calls on the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to continue to provide technical assistance and support, where possible;
- 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 Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.