Zabid Listed for further two years [Archives:2007/1074/Local News]

SANA'A, Aug 5 ) In its 31st session, hold in Christchurch, New Zealand, the World Heritage Committee decided to retain the Historic Town of Zabid on the List of World Heritage in Danger for a further two-year period, which is subjected to a regular reporting submitted by the Yemeni government on February 1, 2008, according to UNESCO.

In the Committee's 32nd session, in 2008, the Yemeni government has to present a progress report on the implementation of the activities adopted in 2007 to protect the historical city of Zabid.

According to al-thawra.net, Abdul Malik Azzan, the general manager of international public relations and cooperation in the General organization for Preservation of historic cities said, “the World committee urges the Yemeni government to carry out the emergency conservation works as well as to activate the Cabinet's decision No.425 – 2006; which is about ceasing all new randomly-built constructions and demolishing all recently-established concrete walls.”

Further, it is of a great significance to provide sufficient funding to stop the deterioration of the protected heritage assets of Zabid, Azzan said.

Zabid is a former capital of Yemen, from the 13th to the 15th century. It was a city of great importance in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university, however; today the city is in decline and in a very poor state of conservation.
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