UNESCO has granted "enhanced protection" to 39 cultural heritage sites in Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese Government.
The Director of Culture and Emergencies Entity at UNESCO, Krista Pikkat, explained that "enhanced protection" is the highest level of international legal protection under the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention. It is granted to sites deemed of utmost importance to humanity, providing them with the highest level of immunity from military attacks. Any State or party not complying with the Convention could be guilty of a war crime.
UNESCO has expressed concern about the impact of hostilities on the region's cultural heritage, with reports of damage to over 20 cultural sites, including World Heritage Sites and others of national importance. The organization has confirmed damage to five cultural properties in the region, emphasizing the threat to the living heritage of communities.
Lebanon has the most sites on UNESCO's "enhanced protection" list, with the organization working closely with the authorities, particularly the Directorate General of Antiquities, to provide technical advice and support for emergency cultural heritage protection. This includes training, emergency inventories, safeguarding measures, rehabilitating storage sites, evacuation guidelines, and marking protected sites with the Blue Shield emblem.
UNESCO stresses the importance of protecting cultural institutions during conflicts, as they are essential for the foundation of future societies. The destruction of cultural heritage during war not only deepens trauma and fuels resentment but also hinders recovery and dialogue. Ms. Pikkat highlights that culture is a source of resilience, an economic asset for recovery, and crucial for peacebuilding.