Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, ALAPH discuss cooperation to protect and restore Syrian antiquities

The Director General of Antiquities and Museums Anas Zeidan discussed with a delegation from the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (ALIPH), headed by its Executive Director Valerie Freeland, the situation of Syrian museums and archaeological sites and the challenges they face. They also discussed ways to support emergency restoration projects, especially in the Old City of Aleppo and the archaeological sites damaged by the February, 2023 earthquake.

The delegation, which also included the alliance’s project managers, Adonis Hussein and David Sassine, affirmed the need to provide the necessary financial support for broader restoration projects, with focus on sites of symbolic and national importance, in accordance with the priorities set by the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.

The delegation also confirmed the completion of funding for the restoration of monuments that had begun in the Old City of Aleppo and the Krak des Chevaliers, the provision of equipment and supplies to local teams, and the training of personnel.

This cooperation will be framed by a memorandum of understanding between the two parties.

The organization’s delegation also toured the halls of the Damascus National Museum and damaged buildings in Old Damascus, particularly the Historical Documentation Center in the Sarouja neighborhood, which was damaged by a fire in recent years.