At the invitation of UNESCO and the Department of Archaeology of the Government of Nepal, ICOMOS, ICCROM, ICOM and the Smithsonian Institution recently conducted a joint Needs Assessment Mission to Kathmandu Valley which was struck by devastating earthquakes on 25 April and 12 May 2015. The team visited the earthquake affected World Heritage Monument Zones of Kathmandu, Patan and Swyambhu, the National Museums of Hanuman Dhoka and Chaavni, as well as the historic settlements of Bungamati and Sankhu.

The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP) through its President, Rohit Jigyasu, was invited as Guest Editor by Preventionweb.net, the main web portal of resources serving the information needs of the disaster reduction community set up by UNISDR - the UN office for disaster risk reduction. Consult the collection of resources on “Building Resilience by Reducing Disaster Risks to Cultural Heritage”

ICCROM and ICOMOS release their situation overview report on damage to cultural heritage following the recent Gorkha earthquake in Nepal
and ongoing efforts for response and recovery. Based on the information gathered through the joint crowd mapping initiative undertaken by ICCROM and ICOMOS, through its International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP), it aims at providing a snapshot of the extent of damage and to assist the agencies on the ground in identifying priorities for intervention.

A series of devastating earthquakes have struck Nepal over the weekend, causing loss of more than 2000 lives. The initial 7.8 magnitude quake, along with aftershocks as high as 6.7 magnitude, caused destruction and severe damage to the historic centre of Kathmandu and other heritage sites throughout the Kathmandu Valley. Quake-related damage has been reported throughout the region.

Paris, 23 April 2015

In the face of the escalating armed conflict and military intervention in Yemen and the ensuing growing humanitarian emergency, ICOMOS expresses its continuing deep concern for the protection of cultural property in Yemen at risk from the hostilities.