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Heavy seasonal rains hit Yemen hard in April 2020 and exceeded the level of floods of the last thirty years. The extreme weather conditions further deteriorated the endangered state of conservation of the World Heritage Site of Sana’a, and aggravated the living conditions of the local communities. The floods resulted indeed in extensive damage to a number of historical houses around Mahadi Mosque, in residential areas located on the west bank of Wadi Al-Sailah, which were already vulnerable and risking collapse.

Thanks to the Heritage Emergency Fund, UNESCO conducted rapid damage assessments, in partnership with the Public Works Project (PWP) and the General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities of Yemen (GOPHCY). The studies allowed for emergency works that stabilized 18 historical houses, which are significant examples of outstanding mud civil architecture. Works focused on the stabilization of roofs, walls and foundations made of organic materials. Complementary interventions consisted of raising supporting stone walls along Al-Sailah, as well as the paving and construction of decks in order to further protect the entrances and walls of vulnerable buildings. Ground floors are used as storage and commercial spaces. The works are thus maintaining income generation activities while mitigating future risks of deterioration. All the emergency works were implemented through a cash for work scheme, an innovative approach experimented by UNESCO in Yemen, which mobilized 87 young workers including 3 females (44 skilled and 43 unskilled) over a period of 56 days The stabilization of the houses benefitted to 161 households members including 87 females. Interventions also included training to transfer skills to the newly recruited workers.

In 2021, works will continue to consolidate main roads and infrastructures that are vital for the preservation of the Old City. Innovative designs were prepared for the set-up of preventive physical barriers (movable floodgates) that will protect against future floods and improve the water dischargement system.

This intervention attracted additional funding (5.000 USD) and technical support from the UNESCO/EU project “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities in Yemen”, currently implemented by UNESCO in four historical cities. This project will take over the elaboration of a comprehensive study to improve the existing knowledge on the water and sewage infrastructures, inform the elaboration of a management plan that will increase the planning and emergency response capacities of local stakeholders to mitigate the loss of cultural heritage.