Local authority of Aden the capital organizes a session to discuss Aden’s inclusion on UNESCO World Heritage List

SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
The local authority in the capital, Aden, organized a session discussion on Wednesday, under the patronage of the Minister of State, Governor of the capital, Aden, Mr. Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, to discuss efforts to include the city of Aden on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The panel, which was held at the General Diwan of Aden Governorate, was attended by the Governorate’s Undersecretaries, Dr. Rashad Shaya, Mohammed Saeed Salem, and Salah Al-Aqel, the Director General of the district of Seera, Dr. Mahmoud bin Jarady, the Director General of the General Authority for Antiquities, Dr. Mohammed Al-Saqqaf, and the Director of the Historic Cities Authority, Nasser Abdul Razzaq, in addition to representatives of UNESCO in Yemen and Aden, Mohammed Al-Jabri, Mohammed Banafeh, and experts and academics specializing in cultural heritage.

During the discussion session, participants stressed that the success of the efforts made to include Aden on the World Heritage List depends on collective work and concerted efforts between the local authority, all concerned parties and experts, with the need to ensure achieving the goal through continuous coordination that reflects the importance of the historical city and its unique heritage.

The session discussed a number of steps and procedures that the local authority must take to ensure the achievement of this goal, including issuing strict decisions related to stopping encroachments and random construction, and adopting practical steps to protect historical sites and ensure their sustainable management.

The meeting touched on the various historical and heritage landmarks and sites that the city of Aden abounds with, including geological parks, defense sites, walls, and other symbols that reflect the cultural and urban heritage of the city, where the importance of listing and documenting these sites was emphasized in the file that will be submitted to UNESCO.

The participants stressed the importance of activating a comprehensive development plan (Master Plan) and setting clear paths to prepare an integrated file to include the city on the World Heritage List, noting that the project requires real community alignment and support from all stakeholders to preserve Aden’s historical and cultural identity.

The importance of forming a city planning council to provide effective management and sustainable protection of historical sites was also emphasized, in addition to setting a week to present additional ideas and proposals necessary to benefit from them within the action plan and strategy of the local authority in the capital, Aden, in partnership with UNESCO.