UNESCO has taken urgent action to safeguard 34 Lebanese cultural heritage sites, including the renowned Baalbek and Tyre, by placing them on its enhanced protection list. This move follows intensified Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which have caused damage near the Baalbek World Heritage Site.
Following an emergency meeting in Paris on November 18th, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict made the decision to grant enhanced protection status. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay affirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Lebanon in protecting its unique heritage.
The 34 sites now under enhanced protection encompass World Heritage Sites like Baalbek and Tyre, as well as other significant cultural properties such as the Majdel Anjar Temple, the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum in Beirut, and the National Museum of Beirut. Earlier this month, Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada reported damage to an Ottoman-era building near Baalbek's Roman ruins due to Israeli airstrikes.
UNESCO has been actively collaborating with Lebanese authorities, site managers, and cultural professionals since the outbreak of hostilities. This includes providing support for emergency measures, inventorying museum collections, and relocating movable artifacts to safer locations within Lebanon.
The enhanced protection status designates these sites with the highest level of immunity against attack. UNESCO emphasizes that any violation of these protections constitutes a "serious violation" of the 1954 Hague Convention and could lead to prosecution. The NGO Change Lebanon had previously petitioned UNESCO for increased protection of the country's heritage.
The Israeli military claims its strikes, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, have hit at least 1,600 targets since September 2024. Lebanon's Ministry of Health reports at least 2,083 fatalities due to Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023.
Tags: UNESCO, Lebanon, heritage, cultural heritage, Baalbek, Tyre, Israeli airstrikes, protection, Hague Convention, World Heritage Sites, war, conflict, damage, museums, Mohammad Mortada, Audrey Azoulay
Excerpt: UNESCO has granted enhanced protection status to 34 cultural heritage sites in Lebanon amid escalating Israeli airstrikes, raising concerns about the preservation of the country's rich history.