LOC18:52
15:52 GMT
PARIS, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- The UNآ’s chief cultural body, UNESCO, said Thursday that it was mobilising the international community and leading cultural organisations and experts to coordinate a strategy to tackle damage to Beirutآ’s cultural heritage and life after the August 4 explosions there.
In a statement, UNESCO lamented the huge damage to the Lebanese capital, especially in the old town where many buildings with cultural significance were damaged.
"The explosions at the port of Beirut did not only claim hundreds of lives and leave thousands injured, they also inflicted severe damage to some of Beirut's most historic neighbourhoods, major museums, galleries and religious sites and came at a time when Lebanon was already reeling from a series of other crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement remarked.
UNESCO estimates that 8,000 buildings were damaged in the blast that affected half of Beirut. Among these are 640 historic buildings and around 60 of these are in danger of collapse. Moreover, several major museums underwent damage, as did important religious sites.
UNESCO indicated that coordination was on-going on "urgent structural consolidation and waterproofing" of vulnerable buildings ahead of autumn rains. Efforts are also underway to regenerate cultural life in Beirut and mobilise professionals, artisans and other actors. The Paris-based body said that the efforts for Beirut were "a strong signal of support for Lebanon following this tragedy." (end)
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