Minister of Culture:Old City of Sana’a building renovations are neglected [Archives:2008/1161/Local News]

SANA'A, June 4)The Ministry of Culture warned that it won't be lenient with any of the General Authority for Historical Cities' deficiencies in protecting historical cities in Yemen, particularly the Old City of Sana'a, which has many buildings on the verge of collapse due to the onset of the rainy season. “The officials will be referred to the judiciary if any default happens,” said that Abu Bakr Al-Maflahi, the Minister of Culture. But the head of the General Authority for Historical Cities (GAHC) Abdullah Zaid said that no one in his organization has been accused of negligence and no one has been put on trial.

During his visit to some of the damaged buildings in the Old City of Sana'a, Al-Maflahi reaffirmed the necessity of the General Authority for Historical Cities' responsibilities to maintain the houses in the Old City of Sana'a that were damaged during the rainy season. Al-Maflahi also asked the GAHC to take all the procedures necessary to avoid risks that have and will continue to threaten inhabitants of these historic buildings.

Al-Maflahi said during his meeting with GAHC director Zaid that his ministry was ready to present the required financial and technical support in order to start or continue with the buildings' renovation process as soon as possible. Additionally, he asked the concerned authorities and the local council members to intensify their efforts to prevent buildings in the Old City of Sana'a from collapsing, defacement and distortion.

Zaid reminded Al-Maflahi that the GAHC is working on these tasks, but face a lack of financial support and are still looking for donors. “There are eight building in the Old City of Sana'a that need to be renovated urgently but we have no funding