UAE’S role in reconstruction of Mosul heritage exemplary
"Revive the Spirit of Mosul" is an initiative launched in 2018 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The UN body says that it was a "response for the recovery of one of Iraq's iconic cities". Mosul endured a threeyear occupation (2014-2017) by Daesh, ending with 80 per cent of the Old City destroyed.
Iraqi historian Omar Mohammed, Research Fellow at George Washington University, stresses that Mosul is a city where Jews, Christians, Yazidis and Muslims of different sects once lived together. "A city known for its unique diversity," he adds.
Unesco claims that the diversity in the city made it a target for Daesh. Shattered by war, a project to rebuild the city had to take all of that into consideration.
Based on three pillars — heritage, cultural life and education, "Revive the Spirit of Mosul" has been financed by 15 partners. Among them, the United Arab Emirates, which has contributed with $50 million, and the European Union.
Initially, the UAE'S contribution to the rebuilding of the cultural heritage of Mosul was about restoring and reconstructing landmarks. However, a year later, the UAE and Unesco renewed their collaboration to include support for the reconstruction of Al Tahera Church, considered by Unesco "an iconic symbol woven into the history of Mosul", and the Al Saa Church, both built in the 19th century.
Upon signing the agreement, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE'S Minister of Culture and Youth, said that "we are very honoured to sign this partnership with Unesco and the people of Iraq to take our efforts further in helping rebuild Mosul and reviving the spirit of coexistence and social cohesion".
Years after the launch of the initiative, Paolo Fontani, Unesco Director in Iraq, said in a conversation with Emirates News Agency (WAM) that "the dialogue is actually there; it is happening" in a city that has always been seen as a place symbolizing exchanges, different cultures and ethnicities living together.
"So that is the idea of reviving the spirit of Mosul. It is reviving the freedom of the people of Mosul and bringing back their identities by working together,” says Fontani.