UNESCO celebrates liberation of Mosul by handing over 100th rehabilitated historic house

As part of its flagship initiative "Revive the Spirit of Mosul", UNESCO launched in 2020 the rehabilitation of 124 historical houses within Mosul's Old City, which suffered severe damage during the recent conflict. This project was made possible through the generous financial support from the European Union and the fruitful collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and local authorities.

Three years later, 80% of the rehabilitation works in this project are successfully completed, and the displaced families are back in their beloved homes. On this anniversary of the liberation of Mosul, the 100th restored house has officially been delivered to its owner, at a symbolic key handover ceremony.

The reconstruction of these houses was done according to the highest heritage standards: using traditional techniques, and traditional materials, so that this exceptional heritage of Mosul can once again be transmitted from generation to generation.

"Returning to live in this house is like a dream. Every corner of this house holds precious memories, and I deeply miss the wonderful connections with our neighbors," said the 82-year-old owner, Najat Abdel Aziz. Najat lived in the house with her nine brothers and sisters her entire life before she had to leave because of the destruction it suffered. "The restoration of these houses serves as a catalyst to inspire people to return to the area and fosters a sense of hope among the residents," she emphasized.

The devastation by Daesh in the area resulted in the displacement of hundreds of residents, who sought refuge in other locations. For a prolonged period, the historic heart of Mosul remained in a state of disrepair, despite having been at one point a cherished neighborhood for generations of Moslawis.

However, since 2020, through this initiative, UNESCO has been diligently rehabilitating historic houses along the path stretching from Al-Nouri Mosque to the Prophet Zarzis area, while also enhancing water and electricity infrastructure. As a result, over 650 residents have been able to reclaim their original homes, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives in a place steeped in history. The return of the inhabitants has also made possible the reopening of local shops. Life is finding its place again in the heart of Mosul.

Restoring these heritage houses also means creating jobs for 4710 workers and craftsmen. UNESCO provided training to local workers in various methods of rehabilitating heritage buildings. 1568 of local job seekers were involved in the rehabilitation process, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor.

The rehabilitation of the 24 remaining houses is on track: they will be delivered to their owners by the end of the summer, 2023. This successful project in Mosul has also been a source of inspiration: it has been extended to Basra (Southern Iraq) where UNESCO is currently restoring 11 historic houses, in coordination with the local authorities.