Saint Hilarion Monastery

Saint Hilarion Monastery, located at the archaeological site of Tell Umm el-'Amr near Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, is an ancient Christian monastery established around 340 CE. Founded by Hilarion, a native of the Gaza region and a significant figure in Palestinian monasticism, the monastery's origins are tied to Hilarion's conversion to Christianity and his subsequent hermitage inspired by St. Anthony. The site features remnants spanning from the Late Roman to the Umayyad period, including five successive churches, bath and sanctuary complexes, geometric mosaics, and an expansive crypt. The early hermitage, consisting of small cells made from perishable materials, has not survived. Abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake, the site was rediscovered by local archaeologists in 1999. Local tradition and 19th-century Western travelers indicate that the monastery's prayer hall may now be occupied by the Mosque of al-Khidr, with marble columns possibly from the Byzantine-era monastery.The Ministry of Tourism in Gaza reported that the monastery was in urgent need of preservation, a challenge exacerbated by regional conflict and lack of resources. The site was listed on the 2012 World Monuments Watch and classified as "Rescue Needed" by the Global Heritage Network. In December 2023, UNESCO granted the monastery "provisional enhanced protection," but in January 2024, Al Jazeera reported significant damage to the monastery due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. By July 2024, the monastery was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO.

Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Under the 1972 World Heritage Convention, a World Heritage property can be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee if its condition meets specific criteria. These criteria are categorized into two main cases for cultural and natural properties.

For Cultural Properties

Ascertained Danger

A cultural property may be considered to face ascertained danger if it is subjected to imminent threats, including:

• Serious deterioration of materials.
• Serious deterioration of structural or ornamental features.
• Significant loss of architectural or town-planning coherence.
• Severe deterioration of urban or rural space, or the natural environment.
• Important loss of historical authenticity.
• Significant loss of cultural significance.

Potential Danger

A cultural property may be facing potential danger if it is exposed to threats that could negatively impact its inherent characteristics, such as:

• Modification of the property’s legal status that reduces its protection.
• Lack of a conservation policy.
• Threats from regional planning projects.
• Impacts from town planning.
• Risk or threat of armed conflict.
• Adverse effects of climatic, geological, or other environmental factors.

For Natural Properties

Ascertained Danger

A natural property is considered to be in ascertained danger if it faces imminent threats such as:

• A significant decline in the population of endangered species or other species of Outstanding Universal Value, whether due to natural factors or human activities like poaching.
• Severe deterioration of the property’s natural beauty or scientific value due to human activities like construction, industrial development, or pollution.
• Human encroachment that threatens the property’s integrity.

Potential Danger

A natural property may be deemed to face potential danger if major threats could impact its characteristics, including:

• Changes to the legal protective status of the area.
• Planned development projects within or near the property that threaten its integrity.
• Outbreak or threat of armed conflict.
• Inadequate or absent management plans or systems.
• Threats from climatic, geological, or other environmental factors.

1

Abu Mena

Abusir, Egypt

Cultural: (iv)

1979

2001–

Cave-ins due to clay becoming semi-liquid when exposed to excess water

2

Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves

Arlit Department, Niger

Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)

1991

1992–

Jihadist insurgency, civil disturbance, reduction in wildlife, and vegetation degradation

3

Ancient City of Aleppo

Aleppo Governorate, Syria

Cultural: (iii), (iv)

1986

2013–

Syrian Civil War, bombings threatening the site

4

Ancient City of Bosra

Daraa Governorate, Syria

Cultural: (i), (iii), (vi)

1980

2013–

Syrian Civil War

5

Ancient City of Damascus

Damascus Governorate, Syria

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)

1979

2013–

Syrian Civil War, rebel gunfire, mortar shelling

6

Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

Syria

Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)

2011

2013–

Syrian Civil War, looting and demolitions by Islamist groups

7

Archaeological Site of Cyrene

Jebel Akhdar, Libya

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)

1982

2016–

Libyan Civil War, presence of armed groups

8

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna

Khoms, Libya

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii)

1982

2016–

Libyan Civil War, presence of armed groups

9

Archaeological Site of Sabratha

Sabratha, Libya

Cultural: (iii)

1982

2016–

Libyan Civil War, presence of armed groups

10

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)

Salah ad Din, Iraq

Cultural: (iii), (iv)

2003

2003–

Planned reservoir suspended; lack of protection

11

Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

La Libertad, Peru

Cultural: (i), (iii)

1986

1986–

Natural erosion

12

City of Potosí

Potosí, Bolivia

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

1987

2014–

Mining causing instability, further mining threats

13

Coro and its Port

Falcón, Venezuela

Cultural: (iv), (v)

1993

2005–

Damage due to heavy rain and construction in buffer zone

14

Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

Homs and Latakia Governorates, Syria

Cultural: (ii), (iv)

2006

2013–

Syrian Civil War, damage and looting by Islamist groups

15

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley

Bamyan, Afghanistan

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)

2003

2003–

Abandonment, military action, dynamite explosions

16

East Rennell

Rennell and Bellona Province, Solomon Islands

Natural: (ix)

1998

2013–

Logging and its effect on local ecosystem

17

Everglades National Park

Florida, United States

Natural: (viii), (ix), (x)

1979

1993–2007, 2010–

Damage from Hurricane Andrew, water flow deterioration, marine habitat loss

18

Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo

Colón Province, Panama

Cultural: (i), (iv)

1980

2012–

Environmental factors, lack of maintenance, urban development

19

Garamba National Park

Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Natural: (vii), (x)

1980

1984–1992, 1996–

Poaching, reduction of white rhinoceros population

20

Hatra

Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)

1985

2015–

Damage inflicted by the Islamic State (IS)

21

Hebron

Hebron Governorate, Palestine

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

2017

2017–

22

Historic Centre of Odesa

Odesa, Ukraine

Cultural: (ii), (iv)

2023

2023–

Russo-Ukrainian War

23

Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

Kyiv, Ukraine

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)

1990

2023–

Russo-Ukrainian War

24

L'viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre

Lviv, Ukraine

Cultural: (ii), (v)

1998

2023–

Russo-Ukrainian War

25

Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz

Qashqadaryo Region, Uzbekistan

Cultural: (iii), (iv)

2000

2016–

Urban development and destruction of buildings

26

Historic Centre of Vienna

Vienna, Austria

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

2001

2017–

New high-rise projects

27

Historic Town of Zabīd

Al Hudaydah, Yemen

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

1993

2000–

Deterioration of historic buildings

28

Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit, Mexico

Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)

2005

2019–

Imminent extinction of the vaquita

29

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

South Kivu and Maniema, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Natural: (x)

1980

1997–

Deforestation, hunting, and war

30

Lake Turkana National Parks

Kenya

Natural: (viii), (x)

1997

2018–

Impact of Ethiopia's Gilgel Gibe III Dam on the lake's flow and ecosystem

31

Landmarks of Ancient Kingdom of Saba

Marib, Yemen

Cultural: (iii), (iv)

2023

2023–

Yemeni Civil War

32

Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park

Bamingui-Bangoran, Central African Republic

Natural: (ix), (x)

1988

1997–

Illegal grazing, poaching, and security issues

33

Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam

Ghōr, Afghanistan

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)

2002

2002–

Lack of legal protection, poor condition of the site

34

Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

Serbia

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)

2004

2006–

March Pogrom, political instability

35

Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea

Natural: (ix), (x)

1981

1992–

Mining concession, influx of refugees

36

Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia

Temwen Island, Micronesia

Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv), (vi)

2016

2016–

Siltation of waterways undermining structures

37

Niokolo-Koba National Park

Senegal

Natural: (ix), (x)

1981

1998–2007, 2010–

Poaching, deforestation, and the impacts of climate change

38

Old City of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)

1979

1991–

Damage from shelling during the Croatian War of Independence

39

Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

Galle, Sri Lanka

Cultural: (ii), (iv)

1988

2012–

Damage from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

40

Old Walled City of Shibam

Shibam, Yemen

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)

1982

2004–

Damage from floods and Yemeni Civil War

41

Palmyra

Homs Governorate, Syria

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)

1980

2013–

Syrian Civil War, destruction by the Islamic State

42

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela

Lalibela, Ethiopia

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)

1978

2021–

Armed conflicts and ethnic tensions

43

San Agustín Archaeological Park

Huila Department, Colombia

Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv)

1995

2008–

Illegal mining operations

44

San Pedro de Atacama

Antofagasta Region, Chile

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)

2003

2020–

Environmental issues due to mining and tourism

45

Shiretoko

Hokkaido, Japan

Natural: (vii), (x)

2005

2020–

Decline in brown bear population

46

The Cultural Landscape of the Chongming Dongtan Ramsar Wetland

Chongming District, Shanghai, China

Natural: (vii), (ix)

2002

2018–

Land reclamation and development threats

47

The Old City of Merv

Mary Province, Turkmenistan

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)

1999

2003–

Preservation challenges

48

The Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower

Baku, Azerbaijan

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv), (vi)

2000

2001–

Urban development pressures

49

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Florida, United States

Natural: (ix), (x)

1988

2016–

Impacts from coastal erosion and invasive species

50

Timbuktu

Timbuktu, Mali

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

1988

2012–

Damage by extremist groups and local conflicts

51

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve

Melaky and Sofia, Madagascar

Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)

1990

1999–

Illegal logging, mining, and invasive species

52

Tyre

Tyre, Lebanon

Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)

1984

2014–

Looting and destruction during conflicts

53

Upper Svaneti

Svaneti, Georgia

Cultural: (iii), (iv)

1996

2000–

Lack of proper conservation and infrastructure development

54

Wadi Rum

Ma'an Governorate, Jordan

Natural: (vii), (x)

2011

2011–

Environmental degradation due to increased tourism

55

Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower

Baku, Azerbaijan

Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv), (vi)

2000

2001–

Urban development pressures

56

Zabid

Al Hudaydah, Yemen

Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)

1993

2000–

Deterioration of historic buildings

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What are the criteria for listing a site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and how does this listing facilitate international conservation efforts? Illustrate your answer with a recent example