UNESCO condemned the bombing of the historical area which it described as "one of the world's oldest jewels" of Islamic culture, urging warring parties to respect Yemen's heritage.
Residents said the pre-dawn strike was the first direct hit on old Sanaa since the launch of the bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in late March.
The missile reportedly hit the Qassimi neighbourhood, which boasts thousands of houses built before the 11th century.
Although it did not explode, three three-storey houses were destroyed in the attack and at least five residents were killed, including a woman and a child, medics and witnesses said.
"I am profoundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the damage inflicted on one of the world's oldest jewels of Islamic urban landscape," UNESCO director general Irina Bokova said, adding: “This destruction will only exacerbate the humanitarian situation and I reiterate my call to all parties to respect and protect cultural heritage in Yemen," she said.
Bokova said she was "shocked by the images of these magnificent many-storeyed tower-houses and serene gardens reduced to rubble".
"The historic value and memories enshrined in these sites have been irreparably damaged or destroyed."
Sanaa's old city, situated in a mountain valley, has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and was a major centre for the propagation of Islam, boasting over 100 mosques, 14 public baths and more than 6,000 houses built before the 11th century.
It was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1986...
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
france24.com
12/6/15
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Coalition denies bombing Yemen heritage site...
ReplyDeleteThe Saudi-led coalition denied claims that it carried out a strike on the historic old quarter of the capital Sanaa.
“For sure we did not conduct any operation inside (the) city,” Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, the coalition spokesman, told AFP.
Assiri’s comments came after claims that the coalition forces had carried out a bombing raid killing five people and destroying three houses in the UNESCO-listed heritage site.
Residents had said the pre-dawn strike was the first direct hit on old Sanaa since the launch of the bombing campaign against Huthi rebels in late March.
It is claimed the Qassimi neighborhood was hit in a missile strike. The district boasts thousands of houses built before the 11th century, an AFP journalist reported.
The alleged missile did not explode but is said to have still destroyed the three buildings. Those killed including a woman and a child, medics and witnesses said.
The target of the raid was not immediately clear amid conflicting statements from residents about whether rebels had occupied one of the houses hit.
The old city has already suffered some damage from air strikes on nearby targets, including the defense ministry, prompting a protest from UNESCO in May.
Sanaa’s old city, situated in a mountain valley, has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and was a major center for the propagation of Islam, boasting over 100 mosques, 14 public baths and more than 6,000 houses built before the 11th century.
It was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1986.
The multi-story houses rising above stone ground floors were built of rammed earth and burnt brick. Each building is decorated with geometric patterns of fired bricks and white gypsum, inspired by traditional Islamic art.
alarabiya.net