The US decision to leave UNESCO again puts a spotlight on what the agency does and why it matters
UNESCO names World Heritage sites, including landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty, and gives them special protection under its World Heritage Sites program.
Its World Heritage Committee each year designates sites considered 'of outstanding value to humanity' and intervenes when sites are in danger of destruction or damage. The program provides countries with technical assistance and professional training to preserve the sites.
It now also includes 'intangible' heritage such as folk songs and traditional dances, crafts and cooking in its lists. A World Heritage site designation is coveted and seen as a boost to tourism.
Holocaust Education
Like the rest of the U.N., UNESCO was created in response to the horrors of World War II, and particularly Nazi crimes.
Amid concerns that the agency's Arab members have used UNESCO to pass anti-Israel resolutions, UNESCO has worked in recent years on Holocaust awareness projects. That includes educational materials and organizing visits to former Nazi concentration camps.
Empowering Girls
UNESCO works to improve literacy, with a special focus on girls in countries hit by war or disasters who get little or no schooling though programs such as the Malala Fund for Girls' Right to Education. In Tanzania, for instance, over 2,500 girls benefited from the creation of safe spaces in 40 secondary schools, The agency provides teacher training and materials and encourages programs for girls to pursue careers in science.
Climate Change
One of the agency's goals is coordinating climate knowledge and improving international education about how global warming occurs and affects people around the world. Over 30 UNESCO programs are designed to help its members adapt to climate change and favor sustainable development.
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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Israel allows humanitarian aid to enter Gaza but will that be enough to tackle mass starvation?
Amid growing international condemnation and warnings of starvation, Israel has announced it will allow humanitarian aid convoys into the Gaza Strip, pausing military activity in certain areas and opening new corridors to facilitate delivery. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the 'tactical pause' will be observed daily in parts of Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, with designated 'secure routes' for aid trucks. UNICEF and the World Food Programme have welcomed the move, with UNICEF calling it 'an opportunity to begin to reverse this catastrophe and save lives.' But both organisations stressed the need for more: not just pauses in fighting, but additional humanitarian corridors and safe, sustained access for both aid and commercial deliveries. For months, Gaza's 2 million people have faced a near-total blockade on food, water, medicine, and electricity. Border closures and continuous airstrikes have left shelves empty, hospitals overwhelmed, and families struggling to survive. It has been under a tight Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007, after Hamas took control of the territory. The pause in military action follows airdrops of food supplies, including one by Israel delivering seven packages of flour, sugar, and canned food, and a joint Jordan-UAE operation parachuting 25 tonnes of aid. Jordan alone says it has carried out 127 such missions since the war began. Photographs on Sunday showed lorries queuing at Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a critical chokepoint where most land-based aid is held up. But for many Palestinians, the help has come too little, too late. 'Of course I feel a bit of hope again, but also worried that starvation would continue once the pause is over,' said Rasha Al-Sheikh Khalil, a mother of four in Gaza City, speaking to the BBC. 'One convoy of aid or a few air drop packages won't be enough. We need a real solution, an end to this nightmare, an end to the war.' Another resident, Neveen Saleh, told the BBC, 'this isn't just about quantity of food, it's about quality. We haven't eaten a single fresh fruit or vegetable in four months. There's no chicken, no meat, no eggs. All we have are canned foods that are often expired and flour.' Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness said the so-called 'tactical pauses' were not enough. 'Gaza's land borders must immediately be opened 24/7, making these undignified airdrops unnecessary,' he told Al Jazeera. 'Let's not forget that over 100 people have been starved to death by Israel. Netanyahu must face international justice for the crime of starvation.' Oxfam's policy lead for Gaza, Bushra Khalidi, echoed those concerns, saying, 'deadly airdrops and a trickle of trucks won't undo months of engineered starvation… What's needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered, and safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.' Israel, which controls Gaza's borders and airspace, had completely halted aid entry between March and May. It later established a controversial system requiring people to walk to militarised aid hubs, locations that the UN has described as 'death traps,' saying that over 1,000 Palestinians were killed trying to access food. Despite accusations from rights groups and UN officials that it was using starvation as a weapon of war, Israel denies any wrongdoing. It says the distribution responsibility lies with international agencies and that the new restrictions were designed to prevent aid from being diverted to Hamas. The World Health Organization's director, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the situation as 'man-made mass starvation.' On Sunday, the Hamas-run health ministry said six more people had died from malnutrition, bringing the total to 133—most in recent weeks. As part of the new measures, Israel has approved a clean water pipeline from a desalination plant in Egypt to Gaza's Al Mawasi region, intended to serve 600,000 residents independently of Israel's own water systems. A power line to a Gaza desalination plant has also been restored. But even as aid trickles in, violence continues. On Sunday, nine Palestinians were reportedly killed and 54 injured by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach an aid convoy route in central Gaza. Whether these steps will bring lasting relief remains uncertain. For now, aid workers and residents alike brace for the limited window of help.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
After UNESCO recognition, Maharashtra to train locals as guides at Maratha Forts
Following the historic inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Government of Maharashtra is taking concrete steps to ensure that the recognition translates into long-term conservation, public engagement, and community involvement. One of the most significant initiatives now underway is the proposed certification programme to train local residents as heritage guides at the 12 inscribed forts. On July 11, 2025, 11 forts in Maharashtra —Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg—and one in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu—Gingee, have been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The proposal for this recognition was prepared by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra. These forts were selected for their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) under UNESCO's cultural criteria (iv) and (vi) and represent the military innovation, ecological adaptation, and architectural excellence of the Maratha Empire, particularly under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's vision of Swarajya. Criteria iv defines be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape, whereas criteria vi define, be directly or tangibly associated with events, traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. According to Hemant N. Dalavi, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM), Government of Maharashtra, the next phase will focus on improving conservation, creating tourism amenities, developing site management plans, and launching public education programmes. A major part of this plan is to train and certify local residents as guides. 'It took us almost two years of executing and planning to pitch the names of these forts. We are proposing a guide certification programme for the local residents who have more knowledge of the area,' Mr. Dalavi said. 'The tourism department will announce this programme this year itself. We are still deciding on the minimum education qualification,' he added. The initiative aims to involve people living near the forts in tourism and heritage promotion, providing them with employment opportunities while also enhancing the visitor experience through locally rooted knowledge. These certified guides will be equipped to explain the historical, cultural, and strategic significance of each fort. In February 2025, a delegation led by Maharashtra Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar was present at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris for a technical presentation. Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Additional Chief Secretary, Culture Department, Government of Maharashtra along with Hemant Dalavi, Deputy Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Musuems, Government of Maharashtra were a part of the delegation. Mr. Kharge, who played a pivotal role in facilitating diplomatic engagements and coordinating international meetings with member countries, led the delegation during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris in July 2025. Dr. Tejas Garge, Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra, played a crucial role in the preparation of the nomination dossier. District collectors from Nashik, Raigad, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg from Maharashtra and Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, played a significant role in the management of the forts under their jurisdiction, said Mr. Dalavi and emphasised that many of these forts are already open to tourists, but the UNESCO tag brings new responsibility. The State now plans to upgrade visitor facilities, improve site management, and conduct further excavation and public outreach activities, alongside the guide training programme. 'From the beginning we have worked with multiple stakeholders such as the local residents, NGOs working towards conservation of the historical forts,' he added. The listing process was a result of an elaborate and rigorous effort by the DoAM, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage), a Gurgaon-based heritage consultancy appointed by the State. Maharashtra has a complex network of over 390 forts which were surveyed, studied, and analysed. These forts were shortlisted down to 60 primary and secondary forts and further through comparative analysis of 29 primary forts, the current 12 anchor forts were shortlisted as best representative of the Maratha Defence Network. Additionally, 53 buffer forts—forts that were controlled by the Marathas but not included in the final inscription— were also documented and explained to UNESCO evaluators, Mr. Dalavi said. 'These buffer forts are spread across Maharashtra and include three in the buffer region of Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu. The forts in the buffer zone may be considered for inclusion in future extensions of the inscription. For example: buffer forts in Salher-Salota Fort, covers the primary defense lines around the property with northern front of Baglan range and Bhilai Fort on southern spur range. Mulher being the capital to its East, there are seven such forts in this premises: Dhamnya Fort, Nhavigad Fort, Tambolya Fort, Mangi-Tungi Fort, Mulher-Moragad Fort, Hargad Fort and Bhilai Fort.' Mr. Dalavi explained. Similarly, in Shivneri Fort, the buffer covers the Shivneri cluster with forts that majorly evolved due to the Nane Ghat trade route with ancient Junnar town; forming the network that surrounds the trade route till Shivneri and there are five such forts there: Chavand Fort, Jivdhan Fort, Bhairavgad Fort, Nimgiri Fort and Hadsar Fort. In Lohagad Fort, there are 10 buffer forts, in Khanderi Fort there are four, in Raigad and Rajgad Fort collectively have eight buffer forts, in Pratapgad Fort there are seven, in Suvarnadurg Fort there are three, Panhala-Pawangad Fort there is one Vishalgad Fort, Vijaydurg Fort has two, Sindhudurg Fort has three and Gingee Fort has three. 'The anchor forts were selected because they are major forts that played a crucial role in the Maratha Empire's history. The buffer forts are those close by, which were under the territory of the anchor forts,' Mr. Dalavi explained. The plan moving forward includes setting up tourist amenities, information centres, and conservation infrastructure, with various government departments involved in implementation, including local gram panchayats, municipal corporations, the forest department, and MRSAC (Maharashtra Remote Sensing Applications Centre). The guided training programme, Mr. Dalavi said, will be a key step in involving the local population in the heritage economy and conservation. The guides will not only help interpret the forts for visitors but also serve as crucial stakeholders in protecting and preserving them.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Europe-bound migrant boat capsizes off the Libyan coast, leaving at least 15 people dead
CAIRO: A migrant boat capsized early Friday off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 15 Egyptians dead, according to Libyan officials. The boat was bound for Europe and was carrying dozens when it capsized around 2 a.m. near the eastern Libyan town of Tobruk, according to Marwan al-Shaeri, the media spokesperson of general administration of the coast guard in Tobruk. Al-Shaeri confirmed that all those known to have died were Egyptian nationals. The crews were able to rescue two Sudanese crewmembers, but a third is still missing. He told The Associated Press that the sea is not suitable for any sailing activity but couldn't say why the boat capsized. It was unclear how many people were still missing. Local aid group Abreen, which tracks migrant activity, said early Friday afternoon on Facebook that 10 people survived the incident. Libya is a dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Drowning incidents near the country's coast have been common. In December, at least 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned off the town of Zuwara on Libya's western coast. According to the missing migrants project run by the International Organization for Migration, at least 434 migrants have been reported dead and 611 missing off Libya in the past eight months. More than 14,100 migrants were intercepted and returned to the chaos-stricken country. Libya was plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
