UNESCO Welcomes Decision to Halt Construction Project at Archaeological Site of Nahr El-Kalb
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2116
UNESCO welcomes the decision taken by Mr. Abbas Mortada, Minister of Culture of Lebanon, to halt the construction project at the Archaeological Site of Nahr El-Kalb. 
Since 2019, the Archaeological Site of Nahr el-Kalb has been on Lebanon's Tentative List for potential future World Heritage nomination, and since 2005 on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. It consists of several commemorative stelae that bear witness to significant historical events and reflect the entire ...
Emergency response to tragic attack in Virunga National Park
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2114
On April 24, a tragic attack from armed militia groups caused the death of four civilians and thirteen staff members of the Virunga National Park, a natural World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC).
In order to ensure the continuity of conservation actions, the Rapid Response Facility (RRF), an emergency fund established by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has responded swiftly to provide emergency funding to Virunga ...
9 May 2020: World Migratory Bird Day
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2113
On 9 May 2020, people around the world will celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) - a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. 
This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us must stay at home. But we can reach for our binoculars to celebrate the theme of World Migratory Bird Day "Birds Connect Our World?h, chosen to highlight the importance of conserving the integrity of ...
In memoriam: Guy Suzon Ramangason
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2112
The World Heritage Centre would like to express its sadness at the death of Dr. Guy Suzon Ramangason, former Director General of Madagascar National Parks, who passed away on 30th April 2020.  Guy Suzon made an important contribution to biodiversity conservation in Madagascar and beyond. 
After an international career at IUCN and WWF, Guy Suzon took the reins of Madagascar National Parks, where he was CEO from 2003 to last year, when he retired. He was the backbone of the ...
New publication: "Empowering Youth for Heritage - 10 years of the World Heritage Volunteers initiative?h
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2111
On 6 May 2020, Dr Mechtild Rössler, Director of the World Heritage Centre, is launching the UNESCO publication Empowering Youth for Heritage. Dedicated to the World Heritage Volunteers Initiative (WHV), it kick-starts a series of Webinars to support and build the capacities of the WHV-implementing organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This publication provides a retrospective of the first 10 years of the World Heritage Volunteers Initiative, to increase its visibility and ...
May 5th is African World Heritage Day
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2110
African World Heritage Day
May 5th 2020
Youth, Entrepreneurship and Heritage Sustainability in Africa
Due to COVID-19, 90% of World Heritage sites around the globe are closed or partially closed, and many of them are in Africa.
As African World Heritage sites cope with the current situation, they are also looking ahead to the post-Covid time and planning for the short and long-term. The 2020 edition of African World Heritage Day will celebrate the theme "Youth, ...
Monitoring World Heritage site closures
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2103
Monitoring World Heritage site closures
Introduction to the global map on the closure of World Heritage sites due to Covid-19 and analysis.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many governments have taken measures to restrict movements of people and access to certain areas.
This includes the closure of natural and cultural World Heritage sites in the 167 countries they are located in. Please consider the following when reviewing the map:
The World Heritage Convention has been ratified ...
UNESCO condemns the killing of 17 people in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2108
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Azoulay, strongly condemned the killing of 13 employees of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), and of four civilians on 24 April 2020 in the vicinity of Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage property in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
"In a global context already weakened by a health crisis linked to COVID-19, the staff of Virunga National Park are unfortunately still paying a heavy price for the protection ...
More than 130 Ministers call for support to culture sector in COVID-19 crisis response
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2106
Over 130 Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Culture joined the online meeting convened by UNESCO to discuss actions to bolster the cultural sector, which is facing unprecedented upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ministers spoke of the direct effects of the current crisis on tourism, museums, cultural production and artists, as well as the measures that they have taken to mitigate the impact of the crisis. They reaffirmed their commitment to intergovernmental dialogue and international ...
UNESCO expresses concern while monitoring flash floods in the Old City of Sana'a
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2105
Recent heavy rains reported in the Old City of Sana'a, Yemen, have resulted in extensive damage to the city's infrastructure, homes, and residential areas located along Wadi Sailah.
"UNESCO is deeply concerned about the impact of these flash floods on the Old City of Sana'a and the people who live there. We stand ready to assist in any way we can,?h said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO.
Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in ...
