Australian team works with Blue Shield to stop destruction of 700-year-old villages
Australian heritage specialist and architectural office Anthony by Design is working with the UN-backed Blue Shield to map and digitally archive 700-year-old villages in conflict zones. ABC said the team operates at seven sites in Syria, Yemen and Sudan. The funding need for intergovernmental coordination is now on a joint agenda.
ABC's report said the Anthony by Design team uses digital point-cloud mapping and photogrammetric archiving under a grant from the Australian government, working through the Blue Shield network. Team lead Sarah Anthony said "if 700-year-old village fabric is not recorded, reconstruction is not possible". Seven sites are currently in the documentation stage.
Blue Shield Australia president Pamela Hooper listed the work areas as the Hama region of Syria, around Sana'a in Yemen and the area north of El Fasher in Sudan. UNESCO Director Audrey Azoulay said in a statement that "heritage protection in conflict zones cannot be sustained without financial backing".
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs announced an additional A$7.5 million in funding; Minister Penny Wong said "protecting human heritage is an inseparable part of our diplomacy". Standard Chartered Australia analyst Carter wrote that the workshop could affect the reinsurance market over the long term. This is not investment advice.
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