Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan held a meeting with Nuno Oliveira, Project Manager at the Regional Office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to discuss ways to resume the restoration of archaeological and cultural landmarks in the governorate after an 18-month suspension.
During the meeting, Governor Shamsan praised UNESCO’s previous efforts in the fields of education and culture, affirming the local authority’s commitment to providing the necessary support and facilitation for the implementation of restoration projects.
He noted that the governorate is home to around 270 archaeological sites and landmarks, many of which have sustained severe damage due to the war—including the National Museum, which once housed approximately 45,000 artifacts and manuscripts before it was looted and set on fire.
For his part, Oliveira stated that UNESCO intends to resume its projects in Taiz, which include the rehabilitation of historical residential buildings and some landmarks in the city of Mocha, based on surveys conducted over the past period.
He also pointed out that the organization is working to support small cultural institutions as part of an intervention project in several governorates and is seeking international funding to meet the rehabilitation needs of the archaeological and cultural sectors—an effort that will help create job opportunities for youth.
It is worth noting that Taiz Governorate places strong importance on preserving its cultural and historical heritage and is working in cooperation with international organizations to rehabilitate damaged landmarks in a way that strengthens cultural identity and provides economic opportunities for the local community.
