UN: 290 HISTORICAL SITES DAMAGED IN SYIRIAN WAR

Foto: MEMO — The report said the damage affected archaeological areas in Aleppo, which has embraced different civilisations for approximately 7,000 years, as well as Damascus, Raqqa, and the historical city of Palmyra. – File photo of a destroyed street in Aleppo, Syria.(Photo: MEMO)

Damascus, 4 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/26 December 2014 (MIN) – Satellite images show that 290 sites classified as cultural heritage sites have been damaged during the war in Syria, the United Nations announced.

In a report issued by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and compiled by the Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), the UN revealed that the sites were located in 18 historical areas around the country.

It shown that serious damage has been caused to archaeological and historical areas, including areas listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Friday.

The report said the damage affected archaeological areas in Aleppo, which has embraced different civilisations for approximately 7,000 years, as well as Damascus, Raqqa, and the historical city of Palmyra.

Some 24 sites have been completely demolished, while a further 104 suffered severe damage. Eighty-five suffered some damage.

Aleppo topped the list with 135 affected sites, as images showed the destruction that plagued the old city. Aleppo’s Great Umayyad Mosque was damaged, its minaret destroyed.

The images proved damage was sustained in the old cities in Damascus, Aleppo, Bosra and Tadmor, as well as the Citadel of Salah Ed-Din, and ancient villages known as “the forgotten cities” in northern Syria; all listed as World Heritage sites.(T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)