Italy and UNESCO Launch Emergency Operation to Restore Shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif
The Italian Embassy for Afghanistan has announced that Italy, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has launched an emergency operation to secure and restore the Shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif. This initiative follows severe damage caused to the historic site by last year’s earthquake.
According to the Italian Embassy, the program focuses on protecting cultural heritage while simultaneously creating job opportunities for local residents. The organization emphasized that this initiative reflects the shared commitment of Italy and the United Nations to support the people of Afghanistan.
The Blessed Shrine, a pilgrimage site attributed to Imam Ali in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, was heavily damaged by the earthquake last year, with parts of it at risk of collapse.
This historic building, constructed in the fifth solar century under the order of Sultan Husayn Bayqara, is considered one of the country’s most important cultural and religious attractions. In recent years, the Shrine of Sakhi has faced serious structural risks due to wars, neglect by previous governments, and natural events.
