France commits €28m to protect war zone heritage sites
by Tom Anstey | 08 Dec 2016
Ruins in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra have been decimated by ISIS / AP/Press Association Images
France has contributed €28m (US$30m, £23.8m) towards the protection of cultural heritage sites during conflicts, signifying the first step in creating an international wartime fund aimed at preventing destruction caused by the likes of ISIS.
Hoping to attract an initial €93m (US$100m, £79m) for the fund French President Francois Hollande announced the move during the Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage conference, co-organised jointly by France and the UAE.
Created in coordination with Unesco, the fund will be used to prevent destruction of historical sites, fight increasing problems of illegal trafficking of stolen artefacts and pay for the restoration of heritage sites damaged during war or conflicts.
The fund would also be used to create a world network of sites where damaged or endangered artefacts could be stored temporarily for safekeeping.
Swathes of the Middle East’s heritage has been at the mercy of ISIS as the terrorist group wages war on the region. Unesco has previously suggested the formation of protected cultural zones – areas where there would be an enhanced focus on preventing attacks on cultural heritage and illicit trafficking in cultural properties.
ISIS has levelled entire ancient cities on its warpath, decimating historical collections. The group recently destroyed a selection of priceless artefacts in Mosul, and has bulldozed sites more than 2,000 years old. Syria’s heritage has also been badly impacted, with all six of its Unesco sites destroyed during the conflict.
Iraq Syria War Zone Destruction Heritage ISIS06 Nov 2015
British Museum to teach Iraqi trainees heritage protection skills
23 Mar 2015
Italy calls for UN force to protect ancient heritage sites
10 Mar 2015
Iraq calls for coalition air support to protect historical sites
03 Mar 2015
Looted Iraq museum responds to IS heritage attacks by reopening after 12-year closure
09 Dec 2014
UNESCO calls for 'cultural zones' to protect Syria and Iraq's heritage sites
08 Aug 2014
ISIS deliberately targeting and destroying Iraq’s cultural heritage
25 Jul 2014
Smithsonian and Penn Museum team up to protect battling Syria's heritage
France has contributed €28m (US$30m, £23.8m) towards the protection of cultural heritage sites during conflicts, signifying the first step in creating an international wartime fund aimed at preventing destruction caused by the likes of ISIS. Hoping to attract an initial €93m (US$100m, £79m) for the fund French President Francois Hollande announced the move during the Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage conference, co-organised jointly by France and the UAE. Created in coordination
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