Ancient City of Aleppo

Before the conflict:

• Lack of definition of the limits of the property and of the buffer zone
• Lack of conservation and/or management plans
• Inappropriate restoration works
• Urban encroachment

Since 2013:

• Destruction and damage due to the armed conflict

Destruction as well as ascertained and potential threats consequent to the armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011

Not yet identified

Total amount provided: USD 95,255 by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund 

Total amount provided to the six Syrian World Heritage properties: 200,000 Euros by the Italian Government; for movable and intangible heritage: 2.46 million Euros by the European Union, USD 170,000 by the Flemish Government, 63,000 Euros by the Austrian Government, USD 200,000 by the German Government; for cultural heritage under conflict: USD 200,000 by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in Bahrain

On 8 January 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report for the six Syrian World Heritage properties, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/21/documents/, and includes updated information on progress and challenges in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee, as follows:

• The recovery process started at a slow pace, mainly due to the high level of destruction, the large amount of debris and the high cost of rehabilitation works, requiring traditional materials that are scarce on the market. The absence of a comprehensive Integrated Management Plan has led to conflicting priorities among stakeholders, despite regular coordination meetings and communication. The lack of awareness by local communities, and inadequate laws and procedures represent additional challenges;
• Several buildings collapsed during the winter, due to harsh weather conditions and lack of funding for emergency works;
• Despite the extremely difficult situation, the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) is actively implementing an Emergency Plan, based on the recommendations of the UNESCO rapid assessment mission (January 2017) and Technical Coordination Meeting (March 2017). Committees and teams have been created and meet weekly to determine risks, to document buildings, to raise awareness among local communities and follow-up on the implementation of recovery activities, including:
  • Management of debris, which is carried out in order to open roads and save historical remains. 70% of the main streets in the old city have reopened,
  • Preparation of rehabilitation studies, including for the National Museum,
  • Rehabilitation works at the Great Umayyad Mosque, funded by the Republic of Chechnya (USD 1.4 million), in collaboration with the University of Aleppo: Works at Suq al-Saqatiyya are being carried out, in collaboration with the Aleppo Governorate, the Aga Khan Cultural Service in Syria and the Syrian Trust for Development. Rehabilitation works in several religious buildings and at the citadel have also been implemented,
  • Delivery of 335 permits for simple rehabilitation works on residential and commercial buildings;
• During an international meeting in Aleppo (January 2019), the “Vision and Planning Framework” for the reconstruction and recovery of the property was presented;
• In August 2018, the DGAM submitted a request for funds to the UNESCO Office in Beirut to support implementation of the Recovery Plan 2018-2020 (USD 385,620);
• A Minor Boundary Modification proposal is being prepared.

See General Decision 43 COM 37 of this Document on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The UNESCO-UNITAR joint publication “Five years of Conflict: the State of Cultural Heritage in the Ancient City of Aleppo” was launched in November 2018 and is available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265826?locale=fr. It is being translated into Arabic and French.

The strategic document entitled “Vision and Planning Framework” transmitted to UNESCO following the January 2019 international meeting is a comprehensive document that clarifies the way forward for the property, while providing a good understanding of the situation regarding rehabilitation interventions conducted between 1990 and 2018. It sets key objectives for several action areas, include the development of a reconstruction and recovery plan, the establishment of a new governance and planning framework with special area plans, building operational and financial tools for reconstruction and recovery, and the financing of reconstruction within a specified timeframe. Opportunities in the reconstruction and recovery phase are highlighted, as well as the need to reassess the integrity and authenticity of the overall property in the light of the damage it has sustained.

The elaboration of a Reconstruction and Recovery Master Plan for the city, and an updated Management Plan for the property are outlined as priorities in the document. Both of these, would facilitate ongoing collaboration at the property, which is challenging given the number of activities that need to be undertaken. It is recommended that these plans should be developed in line with the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011) and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.

The DGAM, its partners and the local community need to be commended for the works carried out at the property despite the extremely difficult conditions and encouraged to pursue the activities as outlined in the Emergency Plan, 2018-2020 and the strategic document “Vision and planning framework”. It is to be highlighted that women and youth are actively involved, on a voluntary basis, in clearing rubble and other rehabilitation tasks at major historic monuments. This conveys a strong message about the importance of cultural heritage for Aleppo’s inhabitants and their commitment for its preservation. On the other hand, one of the major challenges is the lack of available funds. This may already have had an impact on the authenticity of the historic fabric since materials that are readily available on the market are being used. In addition, the lack of technical and financial resources has also resulted in further collapse of some historic structures where it has not been possible to implement consolidation work.

Given the immense challenges of reconstruction and recovery in Aleppo, and considering that it is critical to intervene swiftly during the early stages to avoid further irreversible loss, it is recommended that the international community should be encouraged to support the implementation of activities outlined in the “Vision and Planning Framework” document within the framework of the Emergency Plan and the DGAM Recovery Plan 2018-2020 for the property.

Given the instability of buildings within the property, it is recommended that the State Party undertake a detailed risk assessment for those most in need, and develop emergency measures to enhance the safety of inhabitants.

It is also recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to finalize and submit to the World Heritage Centre for examination by the Advisory Bodies the Minor Boundary Modification proposal that is being prepared to enhance the protection of the property and preserve it from extensive developments in its setting.

37.     General Decision on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic

The armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011 and has constantly escalated leading to significant violence and degradation of humanitarian conditions. It has inflicted damage on the inscribed properties as well as on the 12 sites inscribed on the Tentative List. Sites have been damaged by shelling, fires, extensive illegal excavations, military use, construction violations, in addition to intentional destructions and inappropriate use of archaeological sites by internally displaced populations. Some sites are still at risk, due to the conflict.

On 8 January 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/43COM/documents/#state_of_conservation_reports.  This report represents an official statement of the Syrian authorities and collates available information from the branches of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) up to 31 December 2018. In some areas, access to heritage sites is extremely limited. In particular, the site of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria remains inaccessible, which does not allow a full understanding of the extent of damage at this property.

The State Party reported on actions carried out by the DGAM, despite the difficult working conditions. These comprise monitoring World Heritage properties and cultural heritage in general, assessing damages, undertaking emergency conservation and risk mitigation actions whenever possible, and preparing inventories of the built and movable heritage. The report also stressed the extreme financial difficulties faced by DGAM in its efforts for the preservation of cultural heritage and the restricted international funding to support these efforts.

Updated information on the conservation of sites inscribed on the Tentative List was also provided in the report, indicating the following:

• The site of the ‘Arwad Island’ is subject to tourism development pressures, with an extensive project planned on an area of 7 acres belonging to the Ministry of Tourism;
• At the site of the ‘Noreas of Hama’, the Directorate of Wheels and the DGAM carried out maintenance works on the wooden wheels and consolidation works on the stone structures, despite the lack of adequate material and skilled labor given that huge levers are needed for the works;
• In ‘Maaloula’, following the restoration works carried out by the Municipality and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on infrastructures, residential houses and on the Monastery of Mar Takla, 35% of the inhabitants have returned to the site;
• In ‘Ugrarit (Tell Shamra)’ the national archaeological mission has been clearing the site from vegetation growth and has carried out maintenance works on the site’s infrastructure;
• In ‘Tartus: the Crusaders Citadel-City’, the DGAM has carried out maintenance works;
• Access to ‘Apamea (Afamia)’ is still limited, however the DGAM has documented damages at the site, including thousands of illegal excavation holes, using drone technology;
• The site of ‘Ebla’ is still inaccessible. Local communities informed the DGAM that the Museum of Idlib, which hosted the “archives of Ebla”, has been extensively looted;
• The sites of ‘Mari (Tell Hariri) and Dura Europos’ are still inaccessible, and no new information is reported;
• No further damage is reported at the sites of ‘Qasr al-Hayr ach-Charqi, a desert Castle’ and ‘Raqqa-Rafiqa: the Abassid City’.

Activities undertaken by UNESCO

• Since the 42nd session of the Committee (Manama, 2018), UNESCO has pursued its actions to assist the State Party in its continuous and sustained efforts to safeguard cultural heritage;
• At the international level, UNESCO continues to raise awareness of the international community on the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria, in the framework of the implementation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2199 (February 2015) and Resolution 2347 (March 2017) recognizing for the first time the importance of heritage protection for peace and security;
• At the national level, UNESCO has pursued its activities to monitor the situation of Syrian cultural heritage, raise awareness on its protection, undertake actions to safeguard it, and coordinate the work of national and international entities working on its safeguarding;
• In the framework of the European Union-funded project “Emergency Safeguarding of Syrian Cultural Heritage” (2.46 million euros), co-financed by Flanders and Austria, and implemented in partnership with ICOMOS and ICCROM (March 2014 – December 2018), the following activities were undertaken:
• A 52-minute documentary entitled “Stonekeepers”, in Arabic, English and French, was produced and will soon be distributed,
• In July 2018 in Brussels, an awareness-raising event was organized to launch a publication on Syrian Traditional Music,
• From 22 to 27 June 2018 at the Matenadaran in Yerevan (Armenia), a training on the conservation and restoration of Syrian manuscripts and archival documents was organized;
• The UNESCO-UNITAR joint publication “Five years of Conflict: the State of Cultural Heritage in the Ancient City of Aleppo” was launched in November 2018 and is available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265826?locale=fr. It is being translated into Arabic and French. Another publication on the state of World Heritage properties in Syria and at sites inscribed on the Syrian Tentative List is under preparation;
• Two international assistance requests have been approved, one for the Ancient City of Bosra (21 December 2018 under the emergency World Heritage Fund) and one for the Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Dine (6 February 2019);
• An Italian Funds-in-Trust project entitled “Reinforcing Cultural Heritage Protection in Syria, and in the Ancient City of Bosra in particular as a follow up to the World Heritage Committee Decisions” (200 000 euros) has been endorsed by the Syrian Authorities. The project will allow the provision of further technical support to World Heritage properties.

Activities undertaken by the Advisory Bodies

Members of the ICOMOS Working Group on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Syria and Iraq took part in a colloquium on the destruction of Syrian archaeological heritage in Paris and were invited by the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums to participate in a workshop entitled "Developing the National Strategy for the restoration of the old city of Aleppo". Through its Project Anqa, which was run in cooperation with Cyark, and funded by the Arcadia Foundation, and which concluded in 2019, ICOMOS contributed to the 3D recording of seven at-risk heritage sites in Damascus and to the capacity building of Syrian professionals

The situation of armed conflict in Syria has affected the six World Heritage properties and has substantially limited capacities to adequately sustain and protect their Outstanding Universal Value. The properties have been increasingly threatened by ascertained and potential dangers, in particular the Ancient City of Aleppo, which has been extensively and increasingly destroyed, and which runs the risk of further irreversible destruction during the challenging recovery phase.

Illegal excavations across archaeological sites and tells in Syria are causing extensive and irreversible damage to those sites, many of which are on Syria’s Tentative List. They are also a major source for the illicit trafficking of cultural property, providing looted artifacts to be sold in regional and international black markets.

It is recommended that the Committee commend the DGAM, heritage professionals in Syria and local communities who have made sustained efforts to protect cultural heritage, to monitor it closely and to implement first aid measures for its safeguarding, despite the very difficult situation.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies will continue to support the State Party in the identification of the necessary corrective measures and in the development of Desired state of Conservation statements for the removal of the properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), for all six properties, as soon as the situation allows.

It is important that humanitarian and security related actions be carried out in coordination with cultural heritage stakeholders, to avoid further irreversible damages to the properties, and allow for undertaking first aid measures for its cultural heritage. Furthermore, it is recommended that systematic documentation of all damage incurred at World Heritage properties be duly pursued, whenever the situation allows, and that the Committee reiterate its call to the State Party to safeguard damaged properties through minimal first aid interventions to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation, and to refrain from undertaking other measures until the situation allows for the development of a comprehensive strategy and action plan that respond to international standards and high-quality scientific methods.

With regard to post-conflict interventions, it is recommended that the Committee call on the State Party to plan the future of the World Heritage properties according to international conservation charters and standards, in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.

It is recommended that the Committee also call for international and national heritage professionals to continue to unite for the safeguarding of Syria’s cultural heritage; and to further support its safeguarding through earmarked funds and contributions to the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund.

Until conditions improve, it is recommended that the Committee urge all parties associated with the conflict in Syria to refrain from any action that could further damage the heritage of the country, in particular all World Heritage properties and sites included on the Tentative List, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, especially the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347 of March 2017, in part by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage and preventing any damage that may result from targeting World Heritage properties.

It is also recommended that the Committee reiterate its suggestion that the State Party consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

It is further recommended that the Committee also call upon all parties associated with the conflict in Syria and the international community, in particular the neighboring countries to Syria, to ensure effective measures for the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural objects, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2199.