UNESCO enhances protection for Lebanon’s cultural heritage amid crisis
- Lebanon has been severely affected by Israeli airstrikes, resulting in significant displacement and casualties.
- Numerous cultural sites face threats from ongoing military actions, prompting urgent efforts for their protection.
- UNESCO has implemented enhanced protection measures for 34 cultural sites, marking a crucial step in safeguarding Lebanon's archaeological treasures.
Lebanon is currently experiencing significant turmoil due to Israeli airstrikes, which have created a severe humanitarian crisis and endangered the country's rich cultural heritage. As a result of the conflict, almost 25% of Lebanon’s populace has been displaced, with over 3,700 fatalities reported by the Health Ministry. Historic sites, which include numerous antiquities from various civilizations such as Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman, face imminent threats from the ongoing military actions. Prominent sites like the Baalbek temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are at risk, prompting archaeologists, conservationists, and the military to act swiftly to safeguard these treasures. In response to this alarming situation, UNESCO designated 34 cultural sites in Lebanon for enhanced protection, legal measures under the 1954 Hague Convention, specifying that attacks on these sites could lead to prosecution. Nevertheless, many archaeological locations remain unprotected, and there have already been reports of damage and destruction to churches, markets, and other historically significant structures due to the airstrikes.