The Director General launches from Beirut the international call "Li Beirut" to support education, culture, and heritage
27 August 2020
- The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, on Thursday launched an international fund raising appeal, Li Beirut (For Beirut in Arabic).
- The appeal aims to support the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the creative economy, all of which suffered extensive damage in the deadly explosions that shook the Lebanese capital on 4 August.
As she launched Li Beirut, the Director-General expressed the unflagging solidarity of UNESCO with the people of Lebanon.
“UNESCO, of which Lebanon is a founding member, stands at their side to mobilize the international community and support the city’s recovery for and through culture, heritage and education” Ms Azoulay declared.
The Director-General emphasized UNESCO’s commitment to applying the highest internationally recognized professional and management standards in coordinating support for education and culture in the framework of UN assistance to Lebanon. “I solemnly call for the historic centre to be protected – through administrative measures and appropriate regulations – to prevent property speculation and transactions taking advantage of residents’ distress and
vulnerability,” she added.
(To read the text in its entirety, please download the PDF below)
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