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The Moon and Gaza have been named as being among the 25 cultural sites at risk by a global foundation. The World Monuments Fund (WMF) on Wednesday named 25 sites of cultural importance at risk from war, climate change and even space exploration, including Gaza’s urban infrastructure, Africa’s Swahili Coast and the Old City of Ankara in Turkey.
The only UK entry to the list of sites at risk was Belfast’s Assembly Rooms, built in 1769 as a gathering place for political discourse, business, and entertainment. Campaigners in the city are hoping to turn the building, one of the city’s oldest civic buildings, into a museum encouraging reflection on Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
Also included in the list was the Moon, which heritage campaigners said reflected the urgent need for international agreements to protect lunar heritage sites. Many of the sites on the list were included due to the threat from climate change, such as the Swahili coast in Africa, which is threatened by coastal erosion and increasing sea levels.
The historic lighthouses in Maine in the United States were also included for similar reasons, with researchers citing the lighthouses’ status as cultural symbols for the state. Other cultural monuments were included on the list due to their risk from war, such as buildings in Gaza where conflict has raged between Hamas and Israel since Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
