Lebanon: UNESCO Launches the Rehabilitation of Emblematic Cultural Sites

“It is an important moment for me to return to Beirut, five years after the port explosions. I hope that these new initiatives will bring hope, that they will connect us to the past while preparing for the future.” “I would like to thank the Lebanese authorities and our partners for their renewed trust and support for our work,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

Among the initiatives presented during her visit, the Director-General laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation of the Mar Mikhael railway station. Once a link between three continents, this iconic space, now in ruins, spanning over 10,000 m², will be transformed by UNESCO and UN-Habitat into a cultural and living space for the capital’s residents. Funded with $3.5 million by Italy, this new cultural space will open its doors in 2027.

Another symbol of Beirut’s cultural landscape, the Grand Theatre, closed since 1990 and damaged in 2020, will undergo an ambitious restoration project. A first phase, funded to the tune of $1 million by the United Arab Emirates, will stabilize the building and develop a cultural project in consultation with the municipality, the Ministry of Culture, and civil society. During her visit, Audrey Azoulay called on new donors to join the initiative.

Finally, in Tyre and Baalbek, Phoenician cities listed as World Heritage Sites, UNESCO will support local cultural and creative industries by funding eight arts and crafts projects.

Launched by Audrey Azoulay in the aftermath of the port explosions, the LiBeirut initiative has mobilized more than $45 million to support the reconstruction of the capital. The Organization has coordinated the rehabilitation of 280 educational institutions, enabling thousands of children to return to school. It also provided equipment to 126 public schools and trained more than 1,000 teachers in hybrid teaching.

“In the aftermath of the port explosions, thanks to international mobilization and the commitment of the Lebanese people, UNESCO launched a major operation to support schools, cultural institutions, and artists. Five years later, I am proud to see the concrete results of this major collective project,” emphasizes Audrey Azoulay.

In the cultural field, UNESCO has supported more than a thousand cultural professionals, artists, festivals, and institutions. The Sursock Museum, an emblem of Beirut’s cultural life, reopened its doors in May 2023 thanks to the Organization’s support. The Sursock Palace, meanwhile, continues to receive support for the stabilization of its historic ceilings and the training of young heritage specialists.

Since the beginning of the regional crisis in 2023, UNESCO has mobilized nearly $1 million to support Lebanon’s cultural and educational sectors. The expertise acquired since 2020 has enabled the rapid deployment of an emergency plan on the ground.

The Organization has deployed damage assessment and technical support missions to several damaged Lebanese cultural sites, including those in Tyre and Baalbek. To ensure the safe relocation and protection of priceless works, storage and digitization equipment has been provided to the General Directorate of Antiquities.

In the educational sector, more than one million young people have benefited from psychosocial support programs and therapeutic art activities. UNESCO has since implemented a national program to resume learning in approximately 100 schools across Lebanon.

With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by promoting multilateral cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO coordinates a network of more than 2,000 World Heritage sites, biosphere reserves, and global geoparks; several hundred creative, learning, inclusive, and sustainable cities; and more than 13,000 associated schools, university chairs, and, training and research centers with a global network of 200 National Commissions. Headquartered in Paris, the Organization has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2,300 people. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.

More information: www.unesco.org