(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Qatar Development Fund (QDF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) yesterday signed in Paris their first Memorandum of Understanding to support the implementation of the latter's programme for the protection of cultural and natural heritage in emergency situations.
The MoU provides a $2mn grant as part of a 2014 pledge by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani to donate $10mn to support Unesco in conserving world heritage sites in areas hit by natural and human-made disasters.
Unesco's Programme for Heritage Emergency Preparedness and Response aims to enhance its ability to assist member-states in reducing the risks to their cultural and natural heritage and ensure a timely and effective response in emergency situations to ensure their safeguarding.
Unesco director general Irina Bokova described Qatar's contribution as a direct response to the destruction of cultural heritage in times of conflict, and urged all member-states and partners to join forces to halt cultural cleansing.
QDF director general Khalifa Jassim al-Kuwari said: "The Qatar Development Fund is committed to protecting and preserving heritage globally, by supporting the Heritage Emergency Fund. We believe that our contribution will act as a catalyst that will trigger multiple donors' engagement in safeguarding heritage that is in danger of being lost forever through catastrophes, conflicts and neglect."
The Heritage Emergency Fund will support capacity building and training activities for professionals in conflict situations and emergency response activities.
Signed in the Unesco headquarters, the agreement comes as the 38th session of the General Conference of the UN body has adopted a comprehensive strategy for the protection and promotion of culture and pluralism in times of war.
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