Bombing raids on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, carried out by the Saudi-led international coalition destroyed a valuable part of Yemen’s historical heritage, Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO said in a statement.
She added that targeting Yemen’s rare historical monuments by Saudi warplanes, is reminiscent of Iraq and Syria’s heritage destruction by ISIL and al-Nusra Front terror groups.
“I am profoundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the damage inflicted on one of the world’s oldest jewels of Islamic urban landscape. I am shocked by the images of these magnificent many-storeyed tower-houses and serene gardens reduced to rubble. This destruction will only exacerbate the humanitarian situation and I reiterate my call to all parties to respect and protect cultural heritage in Yemen. This heritage bears the soul of the Yemeni people, it is a symbol of a millennial history of knowledge and it belongs to all humankind” declared the Director General.
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