Ancient heritage threatened by fighting

(6 Apr 2018) LEADIN:
An historic Yemeni city is under threat from airstrikes and violence in the country's civil war.
Zabid is a World Heritage Site but its beautiful buildings face irreparable damage from the fighting.
STORYLINE:
The ancient city of Zabid.
Fortified walls and mosque minarets tower over the surrounding landscape.
There has been a settlement here since the 7th century and the city has huge significance in Yemen's past.
It was the capital from the 13th to 15th centuries and an important seat of learning for the Arab world, thanks to its Islamic university.
Zabid's historic buildings earned it the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
But now the country's civil war is putting the future of these precious structures in peril.
"Some of the bombing around the city of Zabid and inside the city of Zabid resulted in damage of some building ceilings and wall cracks," says Ali Mohammed Makred, deputy director general of the General Authority for the Conservation of Historical Cities.
"We, as a public body to preserve the historic cities, cannot do anything."
Violent battles continue along the Red Sea Coast and are drawing nearer to Zabid.
It lies just 37 kilometres (about 23 miles) away from the areas of conflict.
And a close look reveals deep cracks in the beautiful building facades.
Local resident Saleh Ali Maqbool says the bombing of a restaurant has damaged houses in the area.
"They cracked. And some walls leant because of shelling."
Zabid is known as the city of knowledge and scholars, city of the soul, city of human heritage and Oxford of the East.
Of course, any fighting poses a threat to the lives and well-being of civilians.
But preserving the city's heritage is also important.
The ICRC has called on the parties involved in the conflict to protect Zabid and its monuments.
The deputy director of the Antiquities Office in Zabid has a similar plea.
"We appeal to the international organisations and UNESCO to take all the necessary measures not to target the city of Zabid during this historic period in order not to lose one of the most important historical cities in the world," says Abdul-Habib Mohamed Farea.
Zabid's ancient buildings have survived for centuries.
But will they survive for even another year?
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