The UNESCO team in Mosul welcomed the visit of the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir

The UNESCO team in Mosul welcomed the visit of the DSRSG, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, to the Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Tahera Church in the Old City of Mosul, in the framework of the UNESCO project to Revive the Spirit of Mosul, funded by the United Arab Emirates.

The conflict in Mosul left behind millions of tons of rubble and destroyed prominent historical landmarks. The DSRSG could witness the progress made and get a first-hand briefing of the challenges ahead.

The DSRSG was welcomed by the UNESCO team in Mosul, the local government, Sunni Waqf and the MoC, actively involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the historic landmarks of Mosul. UNESCO explained the wider implications of the programme which involves rehabilitation of the historic urban fabric of Mosul, including houses of historic character, churches, mosques, schools and other public buildings. Moreover, within the framework of the Revive the Spirit of Mosul Initiative, UNESCO seeks to promote reconciliation and a return to normalcy by supporting programmes in education and which focus on the cultural life of the city.

As a first major step towards the recovery of Mosul, UNESCO is working on the rehabilitation of Al-Nouri Mosque and its famous Al Hadba leaning minaret, Al-Tahera Church and Our Lady of the Hour, Dominican Convent, funded by the United Arab Emirates. Other donors of the Initiative include the European Union, the Flanders, The Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Italy, Latvia and Germany.