Historic Town of Zabid
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Financial resources
- Housing
- Human resources
- Land conversion
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Land conversion
- Financial resources
- Human resources
- Management system / management plan
- Serious degradation of the city’s heritage (many houses and the ancient souq are in an alarming state of deterioration)
- Large percentage of the city's houses replaced by inappropriate concrete buildings
- Large sections of the city’s open spaces have been privatized, either illegally or informally and more than 30% of these are built-up
- Reduction in support and resources arising from political and socio-economic disturbances
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Serious deterioration of the built heritage (a high percentage of the residential houses being replaced by concrete and multi-storey buildings)
- The remaining houses in the city are rapidly deteriorating, due to the prevailing low income of the inhabitants
- Since the souq activities have been transferred outside the city, the ancient souq is almost empty and free from any type of activity and the shops are falling apart
- The traditional economic role of the city has vanished
- The city in general, is lacking any conservation and rehabilitation strategies
- Threats arising from the armed conflict in Yemen
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4357
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1282
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Identified; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4357
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023
Total amount granted: USD 14,000 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust and the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement
Total amount granted to Yemeni cultural properties: USD 194,836 from the European Union for damage assessments, capacity development and emergency stabilization of damaged buildings and protection of archaeological sites
2018-2021: 9,780,000 EUR from the European Union for the project: Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen (Sana’a, Shibam, Zabid and Aden)
2019-2020: USD 40,200 from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) for post flood emergency interventions on two historic houses of outstanding importance in Zabid World Heritage site
2022-2026: USD 22,552,000 from the European Union for the project: Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Total amount approved : 188,997 USD
| 2014 | Community participation programme for better ... (Approved) | 29,830 USD |
| 2004 | Assistance for the publication of a book (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
| 2003 | Safeguarding the Historic Town of Zabid (Approved) | 40,000 USD |
| 2001 |
Historic City of Zabid (APPROVAL OF THE SECOND HALF-NOT ...
(Approved)
Reapproval: 22 Jan, 2002 (n°1486 - 31,918 USD)
|
25,000 USD |
| 2001 | Historic City of Zabid (APPROVAL OF THE FIRST HALF) (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1999 | Exposition of the photographs of the architectures in ... (Approved) | 167 USD |
| 1998 | Construction of the furnace for making mud bricks, a ... (Approved) | 19,000 USD |
| 1994 | Preparation of a publication on Zabid (Approved) | 15,000 USD |
| 1994 | Urgent protection works in the Historical Town of Zabid (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2023**
2002 and 2003: international expertise missions; December 2004: World Heritage Centre mission; January 2007: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; January 2009: World Heritage Centre mission; January 2011: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023
On 31 January 2022, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/611/documents/, presenting the following information:
- The proximity of armed conflict and deteriorating economic conditions continue to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
- Measures have been implemented to limit the spread of construction violations by suspending licenses and removing four unauthorised buildings;
- The Higher Committee for the Protection of Zabid is in place;
- The implementation of conservation projects, supported by the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, has continued in the framework of the European Union funded project: "Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen", several projects were completed in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) and the Public Works Project (PWP). Preparations are in progress for a second phase of this project;
- The restoration of 30 damaged buildings is being carried out with local funding;
- A workshop for managing cultural heritage sites during disasters and crises was held at the Centre for Architectural Training and Studies (CATS) in Sana’a;
- No progress is reported in implementing the 2015 National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020, owing to lack of financial support. However, it is hoped that resources might be found to implement this strategy and the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage over the coming years;
- Additional technical and financial support is required to contribute to capacity building and conservation efforts;
- The joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property should be expedited, as soon as the security situation improves.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023
The security situation in Yemen, in combination with poor economic conditions, and ongoing lack of maintenance of the fragile structures continue to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. In August 2022, it was reported that torrential rain incurred damage at several buildings within the property at varying degrees. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of organizational support and scarce resources, which continue to limit effective heritage management and physical conservation works. However, the efforts of local and international actors, including the support provided by the European Union through UNESCO are commendable. The restoration of historic buildings and progress with a number of damaged buildings is welcome. The project has provided job opportunities to 6,263 young Yemenis in the four targeted cities (Old City of Sana’a, Old walled City of Shibam, Old Town of Zabid and historic areas of Aden), and has contributed to damage assessment and conservation. Documentation and conservation works have been undertaken, and a range of training and community awareness programmes have been implemented. In the framework of this project, 187 residential houses have been rehabilitated at this property, in addition to the Museum of Zabid as well as public areas, including the Souq area and the area of Bab Shibam, where paving and infrastructure works were carried out. Also, a traditional brick Kiln has been rehabilitated, and damaged parts of the City Wall have been repaired. In terms of capacity building, 11 workshops were implemented for 405 trainees. Crafts workshops engaged 35 young Yemenis who participated in a workshop on wood carpentry, and 15 who participated in a workshop on traditional construction techniques. A new phase of the project, entitled ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen’ has been launched, with funding by the European Union.
Construction activities should continue to ensure compliance with building regulations, respecting original materials and building techniques. This is important to ensure the maintenance of the attributes which convey the OUV of the property, including its authenticity and integrity. The workshop about managing cultural heritage sites during disasters and crises is a positive step and it remains desirable that future training further develops local expertise in technical fields that contribute to preserving historical monuments within the property, and in Yemen generally. Urgent financial assistance is still required to support physical, economic and social recovery, which have been further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
No progress is reported with the definition of the boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification for the property in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines. The definition of boundaries remains important for ensuring the protection of the property and the ongoing efforts should be supported and encouraged. The previously requested Reactive Monitoring mission should visit the property as soon as the security situation allows. The challenges in finalizing the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020, and implementing the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, are acknowledged and it is hoped that these may progress, following a mission, preferably with international support.
The Historic Town of Zabid remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and it would be appropriate for the property to remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger, consistent with the expressed wish of the State Party.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7A.47
Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) (C 611)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.25 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
- Expresses its continuing concern that the Historic Town of Zabid has incurred irreversible damages and continues to be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and security challenges, and continuing limited support and resources for both heritage management and physical conservation;
- Commends the efforts undertaken in capacity building, awareness raising, damage assessment, documentation and emergency interventions at the property, and requests that they continue in consultation with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies;
- Reiterates its previous requests to the State Party to:
- Submit information on major projects to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies,
- Elaborate proposals for a boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification in close coordination with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines,
- Consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
- Commends the outcomes of the first phase of the UNESCO/EU Cash for Work Project in Yemen, and the launch of the new EU-funded UNESCO Project ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage;
- Notes with concern that current circumstances and lack of resources continue to prevent progress with the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020 and the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage;
- Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to the processes required to enable the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, including the implementation of corrective measures, as soon as the situation in Yemen allows;
- Continues to urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the OUV of the property, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, especially sites on the World Heritage List and those included in the Tentative List of Yemen, and appeals to all States Parties to cooperate in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347;
- Reiterates its previous calls to 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, including funding for capacity building and first-aid restoration and protection measures;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
- Decides to retain Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
45 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
- Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 45 COM 7A.51)
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
- Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
- Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
- Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
- Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
- Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
- Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
- Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
- Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
- Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
- Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
- Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
- Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
- Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
- Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
- Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
- Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
- Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.47
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.25, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/Online, 2021),
- Expresses its continuing concern that the Historic Town of Zabid has incurred irreversible damages and continues to be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and security challenges, and continuing limited support and resources for both heritage management and physical conservation;
- Commends the efforts undertaken in capacity building, awareness raising, damage assessment, documentation and emergency interventions at the property, and requests that they continue in consultation with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies;
- Reiterates its previous requests to the State Party to:
- Submit information on major projects to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies,
- Elaborate proposals for a boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification in close coordination with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines,
- Consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
- Commends the outcomes of the first phase of the UNESCO/EU Cash for Work Project in Yemen, and the launch of the new EU-funded UNESCO Project ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage;
- Notes with concern that current circumstances and lack of resources continue to prevent progress with the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020 and the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage;
- Reiterates the need for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to advise on repair and conservation works, and to contribute to the processes required to enable the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, including the implementation of corrective measures, as soon as the situation in Yemen allows;
- Continues to urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the OUV of the property, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage, especially sites on the World Heritage List and those included in the Tentative List of Yemen, and appeals to all States Parties to cooperate in the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347;
- Reiterates its previous calls to 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, including funding for capacity building and first-aid restoration and protection measures;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
- Decides to retain Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Yemen
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
