• UGI USER
  • Jul 29, 2024
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TELL UMM AMER ADDED TO UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LISTS

Why in the news?

  • Tell Umm Amer, a historic site in Gaza, was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger due to ongoing damage.
  • Gaza Strip, including cultural sites, heavily damaged by ongoing Israeli assaults.
  • 207 archaeological sites and culturally significant buildings in Gaza have been reduced to rubble or damaged.
  • Inclusion on the World Heritage in Danger list provides access to international technical and financial assistance for protection and rehabilitation.
source:scribd

Inclusion in UNESCO Lists:

  • Decision: WHC included Tell Umm Amer in both UNESCO World Heritage Site List and List of World Heritage in Danger.
  • Event: Decision made during World Heritage Committee’s 46th Session(WHC’s) 46th session in New Delhi.
  • Location: Site, also known as the Monastery of Saint Hilarion, is in Gaza Strip.

Saint Hilarion Monastery:

  • Located at Tell Umm el-‘Amr, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
  • Founded around 340 CE by Hilarion, a notable figure in Palestinian monasticism.
  • Features include five churches, bath complexes, mosaics, and a crypt.
  • Abandoned after a 7th-century earthquake, rediscovered in 1999.
  • Listed on the 2012 World Monuments Watch.
  • Granted “provisional enhanced protection” by UNESCO in December 2023.
  • Added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in July 2024 due to conflict damage.
About Tell Umm Amer, a historic site:

  • Located on the coastal dunes of Nuseirat Municipality, 10 km south of Gaza City.
  • Ancient Christian monastery founded by Hilarion the Great (4th century CE).
  • Known as the ‘Monastery of Saint Hilarion’.
  • First monastic community in the Holy Land.
  • Positioned at key trade and communication routes.

Historical Significance:

  • Fourth Century Monastery: Founded by Hilarion the Great, considered the father of Palestinian monasticism.
  • Features: Ruins include five successive churches, bath and sanctuary complexes, geometric mosaics, and a crypt.
  • History: Monastery spans over four centuries, from Hilarion’s time to the Umayyad period. Abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake, uncovered in 1999.

Key Facts about United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO):

  • Full Form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  • Agency: Specialized UN agency.
  • Founded: Constitution effective from 1946.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • Parent Organisation: UN Economic and Social Council.
  • Goals: Promote peace through education, science, culture, and sustainable development.
  • Vision: Foster a just, peaceful, and inclusive world.