Abu-Mina site removed from World Heritage in Danger
The Committee's report commended the efforts made by the Egyptian government in implementing all the recommendations required to remove the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), noting that the requirements had been fully realised.
The decision came upon the committee's review of the projects completed for protection and preservation of the site. Remarkable progress was made in the establishment of an effective monitoring and control system of groundwater, the restoration of archeological ruins, the building of a wall to protect the site, and upgrading the facilities and services necessary for the site to be a cultural, religious and tourist destination .
Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled Hassan Said, Governor of Alexandria, congratulated the Egypt and its various institutions: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Coptic Orthodox Church, and all the entities that contributed to this achievement, stressing that this success reflected the State's keenness to protect heritage and historical sites.
For its part, the Coptic Orthodox Church welcomed UNESCO's decision, and thanked all who had worked hard over the past years to save the site, stressing that Abu-Mina is one of the most important Christian shrines in Egypt and the world, and occupies a special place in the hearts of the Copts, as it is associated with the name of one of the most famous and beloved martyrs in the history of the church.
Abu-Mina site, which has been included on the World Heritage List since 1979, was placed on the list of threatened sites in 2001 owing to decline caused by groundwater leakage.
For full story of Abu-Mona site:
How Mar-Mina's Marble City was discovered… A gripping story
Saving Mar-Mina's splendid place
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Abu-Mina site removed from World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has removed Abu-Mina archeological site, southwest Alexandria, from its list of world heritage sites in danger, following more than 20 years of the site on that list. The decision was taken during the 47th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Paris in July 2025. The Committee's report commended the efforts made by the Egyptian government in implementing all the recommendations required to remove the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), noting that the requirements had been fully realised. The decision came upon the committee's review of the projects completed for protection and preservation of the site. Remarkable progress was made in the establishment of an effective monitoring and control system of groundwater, the restoration of archeological ruins, the building of a wall to protect the site, and upgrading the facilities and services necessary for the site to be a cultural, religious and tourist destination . Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled Hassan Said, Governor of Alexandria, congratulated the Egypt and its various institutions: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Coptic Orthodox Church, and all the entities that contributed to this achievement, stressing that this success reflected the State's keenness to protect heritage and historical sites. For its part, the Coptic Orthodox Church welcomed UNESCO's decision, and thanked all who had worked hard over the past years to save the site, stressing that Abu-Mina is one of the most important Christian shrines in Egypt and the world, and occupies a special place in the hearts of the Copts, as it is associated with the name of one of the most famous and beloved martyrs in the history of the church. Abu-Mina site, which has been included on the World Heritage List since 1979, was placed on the list of threatened sites in 2001 owing to decline caused by groundwater leakage. For full story of Abu-Mona site: How Mar-Mina's Marble City was discovered… A gripping story Saving Mar-Mina's splendid place Comments comments
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She tried to keep up by creating a TikTok account and following them on Instagram but found that she was met with resistance. 'My daughter blocked me,' she said, managing a smile. 'She said that it's 'my space.' I thought I was being supportive.' For many parents, the shift isn't only emotional. It's deeply personal. It's a feeling of loss or of being left behind by their own children. And unlike past generations, today's parents are navigating a parenting experience that has no blueprint, especially as the pace of social change accelerates. This isn't just a family issue. It's a social one. Emotional fluency, self-expression, and mental health conversations are all happening more freely online, and Generation Z is leading the charge. But when those conversations are met with confusion or dismissal at home, many simply redirect their words to digital spaces. Laila Sherif, a clinical psychologist in Cairo, sees patterns like this on a daily basis. 'This generation is not emotionally detached. They're emotionally displaced,' she explained. 'They are speaking, but in environments where they feel they can express themselves without correction. She noted that Egyptian family structures, rooted in respect and modesty, often unintentionally discourage emotional dialogue. 'If a teen says, 'I'm anxious,' and the response is 'you'll be fine, don't overthink things,' then that teen won't try to communicate again,' Sherif said. The emotional risks aren't always visible, but they're there: loneliness, internalised pressure, and a growing sense of isolation inside one's own home. 'We need to stop asking, 'why don't they talk to us?' and start asking, 'what do they need to feel safe talking to us?'' Sherif added. Back in Cairo, Nada, 17, said she wishes things could be different. 'Sometimes I just want to tell my mom about my day, or my thoughts, or even show her something I posted. But I stop myself. I think 'she'll just say it's silly.'' She paused. 'She's not mean. I just don't think she knows how to meet me where I am,' Nada said. She shared that she sometimes feels more connected to strangers online than to people at home. 'I get messages from people saying, 'I feel this too.' That's all I want. Just someone to say, 'I get it.'' But not all stories end in silence. In Alexandria, Ahmed, the father of a 20-year-old son, said a health scare last year had changed the way he parented. 'Before, I used to ask questions like a policeman. 'Where were you? What are you doing on your phone?' But now, I just sit next to him. Sometimes I ask, 'are you okay?' and then I wait.' The results surprised him. 'He didn't open up right away. But after a while, he started talking. Not everything, but enough.' He added thoughtfully that 'I realised I don't have to know everything. I just need to make him feel like I'm safe to talk to.' And that seems to be the real bridge: not grand gestures or forced conversations, but a quiet, patient presence. A kind of love that doesn't demand, but invites. For many families, that may be the starting point – not fixing the emotional distance, but simply acknowledging it, gently, without shame. It's about making room for the quiet, for the awkward moments, for the chance that one day, the silence might break. Because the truth is that Generation Z isn't silent. They're just choosing when and where to speak. And maybe, just maybe, the home can become one of those places again. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
