Doha, April 17 (QNA) - The world observes World Heritage Day on April 18 each year, an initiative launched by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 to raise awareness of shared cultural and historical heritage.

This year’s theme, "Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters," highlights the need to safeguard heritage during crises.

UNESCO defines living heritage as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, and knowledge related to nature and traditional craftsmanship, while ICOMOS includes both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Abdulhamid Salah Al Sharif, an expert in crisis and disaster management, stressed the importance of protecting heritage during armed conflicts, calling it a race against time that requires a dual strategy combining technical measures and community participation.

He explained that specialists must anticipate risks through scientific assessment, develop national strategies linked to early warning systems, and prepare response plans based on potential scenarios.

He also highlighted rapid response actions such as pre-emptive documentation, evacuation of movable artifacts when needed, and quick rescue programs including temporary structural support and in-situ protection using available tools.

At the community level, he said the local population is the first line of defense, through rejecting illicit trade in looted artifacts, reporting violations, and forming local protection groups.

He emphasized that heritage is not just physical remains but a key part of identity and dignity.

On responsibility, he affirmed a shared responsibility approach, noting that protecting heritage is not solely a government task but a collective social commitment.

He added that governments must establish legal frameworks, enforce laws, allocate resources, and adhere to international agreements such as The Hague Convention of 1954.

He explained that society is the true owner of heritage, stressing that without broad public awareness, no official efforts can effectively safeguard this legacy.

Dr. Al Sharif expressed his belief in the principle of nationalizing protection, meaning making citizens feel that heritage sites are their own responsibility to protect.

He said that when heritage is linked to economic value, such as tourism, or spiritual value like identity, the citizen becomes the strongest guardian before the soldier or archaeologist.

He also stressed the importance of media in raising awareness of threats to heritage, calling for more specialized coverage addressing climate change impacts, illicit trafficking, and strengthening the connection between people and their history, including sites, traditions, and cultural practices.

Al Sharif urged transforming heritage from a static historical material into a living developmental element, highlighting success stories in rescue efforts to build awareness, hope, and public engagement.

Regarding ICOMOS, he described it as the leading global technical reference in heritage protection, contributing to key charters such as the Venice Charter and the Washington Charter (1987).

However, he noted that field experts, especially in conflict zones, seek faster and more flexible intervention and fewer bureaucratic barriers in emergency funding.

He expressed hope that ICOMOS would further support capacity building for local experts in high-risk areas, enabling them to lead rescue operations without waiting for international missions.

He emphasized that living heritage represents a pulse linking the past to the future, and that protecting it during conflicts and disasters is not optional but essential for preserving human memory and cultural independence.

The ICOMOS scientific plan for 2024–2027 focuses on "Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery," with 2025 dedicated to preparedness and 2026 focusing on emergency response for affected heritage. (QNA)