UN / UNESCO TIMBUKTU

With 500,000 euros provided by the European Union, UNESCO will coordinate the reconstruction of destroyed mausoleums, the rehabilitation of mosques and private libraries in Timbuktu, northern Mali, as well as ancient manuscript conservation projects. Fourteen out of 16 designated world heritage sites in Timbuktu were destroyed by armed groups in 2012. UNIFEED-UNTV /FILE

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:47
• Production Date: 27 June 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION - UNESCO
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; HISTORY; FINE ARTS; LITERATURE; MUSIC; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; CULTURAL PROPERTY
• Geographic Subject: MALI
• MAMS Id: 1126926

Description

STORY: UN / UNESCO TIMBUKTU
TRT: 1.47
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV / FILE
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS

DATELINE: 27 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY /FILE

Shotlist

RECENT:

1. Wide shot, exterior of the UN Headquarters

27 JUNE 2014, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English), Lazare Eloundou Assomo, UNESCO country representative in Mali:
“We want communities to rebuild the heritage, because it is not just about rebuilding stones, it is also about keeping cultural significance and keeping the role these museums had in structuring life of the communities.”
4. Cutaway, podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English), Lazare Eloundou Assomo, UNESCO country representative in Mali:
“Reconstructing cultural heritage of Timbuktu will really create conditions or kind of environment to foster peace reconciliation and social cohesion and this is what we have been seeing in Timbuktu.”
6. Cutaway, journalist
7. More than 300 000 manuscripts are now in Bamako, in secured places. But as you know, the climate in Bamako is different than climate in Timbuktu, so it is important to create conditions for safe return as quick as possible to their real location.”

WORLD BANK / MINUSMA - 5 NOVEMBER 2013, TIMBUKTU, MALI

8. Wide shot, Timbuktu airport
9. Med shot, minaret of the Djingareyber mosque
10. Various images of the manuscripts
11. Various images traditional Tuareg dance

Storyline

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has started reconstruction of World Heritage Sites in Timbuktu, Mali, destroyed during the city’s occupation by armed groups in 2012.

14 out of 16 designated World Heritage monuments in Timbuktu have been destroyed by the jihadists during their brief rein in northern Mali.

They have also burned a number of ancient manuscripts. However, the residents managed to secretly transport some 300 000 manuscript to Malian capital Bamako.

With 500,000 Euros provided by the European Union, UNESCO will coordinate the reconstruction of destroyed mausoleums, the rehabilitation of mosques and private libraries, as well as ancient manuscript conservation projects. Local personnel will also be trained to ensure lasting preservation.

Talking to journalists in New York, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, UNESCO’s representative in Mali said that UNESCO wants local community to rebuild the heritage because “it is not just about rebuilding stones, it is also about keeping cultural significance and keeping the role these museums had in structuring life of the communities.”

Assomo also said that reconstructing monuments will create conditions to “foster peace reconciliation and social cohesion” in Timbuktu.

Talking about the manuscript safeguarded in Bamako, he said conditions need to be created for manuscripts to be returned to Timbuktu “as quick as possible”.