The Palmyra archaeological museum, which was severely damaged during the Syrian civil war, will be restored with funds from international Swiss-based foundation Aliph, its director told The National.
The site made world headlines in 2015 when ISIS blew up the Temple of Bel, the Arch of Victory and beheaded the Unesco site's head of antiquities. Palmyra also sustained bombing by the Syrian regime and its ally Russia. Most of the population of the nearby city fled and has yet to return.
"We are ready to rehabilitate the museum, its collection and to start to restore part of the site – the guesthouse and the footbridge to the fortress," said Aliph executive director Valery Freland at a conference in Lausanne, Switzerland. The guesthouse is set to house archaeologists working on the 2,000-year old site. Mr Freland did not specify how much the restoration would cost.
There are currently no facilities on site to cater to visitors, though a trickle of tourists continue to visit what used to be Syria's most popular site before the 2011 civil war. Photos of recent visits to the museum, which was built in 1961, show a collapsed roof and a broken sarcophagus from the Palmyrean era. The museum's plaque appears to be hanging sideways by a nail, half blown off. The footbridge is heavily damaged and dangerous to cross.
The cost of the rebuilding project will be estimated once an operator for the museum is appointed and when the plans have been agreed with the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums. Most of the old museum building is likely to remain but large parts are expected to be modernised. Aliph in July announced a two-year programme to protect Syrian heritage sites of $5 million. This includes Palmyra but also the Crac des Chevaliers near Homs, as well as sites in Damascus and Aleppo.
"Palmyra will be one of our flagship projects for the coming months and years," Mr Freland said.
The foundation, which protects heritage sites in conflict, post-conflict, and crisis areas, is mostly funded by nations – France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Luxembourg, China, Uzbekistan and Cyprus – as well as private donors.
Aliph was among the organisers of the first major post-war conferences on Palmyra in collaboration with Unesco, the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria and the University of Lausanne.
The conference in Lausanne brought together experts, academics and international institutions to discuss the way forward for Palmyra. The museum's restoration and safeguarding of its artefacts will take up to three years, said Patrick Michel, senior lecturer at the University of Lausanne's department of ancient science and archaeology.
"The museum will be also a place for the community to gather, to hold events and to welcome new visitors," Mr Michel said. "And the second priority is to not yet restore, but to secure the remaining monuments."
Despite the destruction, the site remains breath-taking for the casual visitor due to its sheer magnitude. "Imagine going to Paris without the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur and the Louvre museum but you can still walk through its boulevards," he said. "Palmyra is like that."
Also on the agenda were discussions to plan Palmyra's removal from the list of Unesco's World Heritage in Danger, which it and other sites in Syria were added to in 2013 due to the civil war. Placing the site on that list was a way of highlighting the danger of conflict in addition to opening the door to extra funding, said Youmna Tabet, programme specialist at Unesco's World Heritage Centre.
"Palmyra's removal from this listing will signal that it's entered a new, more hopeful era," Ms Tabet said.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
