UNESCO will protect Lebanon’s historic sites, which are now on the verge of destruction. This statement was made by UNESCO representatives after a major explosion in the port of Beirut. According to them, some 60 historic buildings in the country are now “under threat of collapse” and require surveillance.
The consequences of the explosion are felt all over the capital, but two neighborhoods – Gemmaizeh and Mar Mikhael – were hardest hit. UNESCO said that both districts are home to a large number of historic buildings. At least 640 buildings have been damaged in the blast, but only a tenth of them could be completely destroyed.
Representatives of the international organization noted that even before the Lebanon bombing, there was growing concern over the state of heritage in Beirut due to the rampant construction and lack of protection of historic buildings in a densely populated city.
