The earthquake of 21 September 2009 was recorded at a magnitude 6.3 and its epicenter was situated less than 10 km away from Trashigang Dzong. The quake has been followed by frequent after-shocks, almost every day for over 3 weeks. In addition to 13 people dead and thousands homeless, a damage assessment in Eastern Bhutan has revealed the following damages to heritage: 3 fortresses, in Trashigang, Tashiyangtse and Lhuntse; 310 lhakhangs (monasteries) and 161 chortens (stupas). The Bhutan Foundation, working in cooperation with the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (Division for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Sites), has identified two priority sites for restoration, Trashigang Dzong and Drametse Lhakang. Read more
The Drametse lhakhang (monastery) was founded in the 16th century by Anim Choeten Zangmo, a fourth generation descendent of Terton Pema Lingpa - one of the five most famous Tertons (Treasure discoverers). It is the second biggest temple in Mongar District. The lhakhang has been constructed incorporating all the architectural features of Bhutanese traditional construction, and is renowned for the high quality of its antique murals and hand-molded statues. The stability of the lhakhang structure was heavily weakened by the earthquake of 21 September 2009. In the event of another earthquake of the same magnitude or continuous aftershocks, there are very high chances of the walls falling apart and leading to the collapse of the lhakhang and the loss of significant heritage including many invaluable artifacts, statues and most artistic murals; and also putting the lives of the monks at risk. Read more
An earthquake of 5.5 of the Richter scale wrecked the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan on 20 February 2009. Although the epicenter was situated in the city of Muzaffarabad, 130 kilometers away, the earthquake caused extensive damage in the whole area and also to the historical buildings in Srinigar. Read more
On September 30 a tragic earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale struck West Sumatra and damaged hundreds of buildings in the harbour city of Padang. Funded by CER, a group of Indonesian cultural heritage professionals assessed the state of a total of 156 important historic buildings of which 15 buildings require immediate intervention. Read more
The library of the renowned Nesin foundation has been flooded and can no longer be used by personnel or students. Severe rainfall surprised Istanbul and its surroundings on 9 September 2009 and resulted in the worst flooding since eighty years. In some areas the water rose as far as twee meters above sea level. Thanks to the incredible quick response of the personnel of the Nesin Foundation 30.00 books and 300.000 pages of the Nesin archive were saved from the rising water. Read more
The Episcopal Palace and the cathedral of Comayagua are of great historical and cultural value for the people of Comayagua and for Honduras, considering that Comayagua was the civil and religious centre of Honduras for more than 300 years. Fire brought severe damage to the Episcopal palace and the Tridentine College of St. Augustine. read more
The 19th century Milma Pal mosque is an example of a synthesis between the Afghan vernacular and European architectural influences that characterizes royal buildings of that era. The Cultural Emergency Programme contributed to stabilization and restoration after a series of flash-floods damaged the mosque. read more
The devastating coincidence of four storms within less than four weeks led to massive flooding in the throughout the country. Some twenty vodou sanctuaries located in the municipality of Croix-des–Bouquets/Noailles and vividly decorated with wall paintings suffered severe damages. read more
The Al Kamandjâti Music Centre in Jenin, which opened in 2006, burnt down on 14 March 2009 during the night. Matchsticks found on the ground and benzene drums around the centre indicate that this was a voluntary act of criminality. Walls are burnt and the material inside either completely disappeared or became unusable. The centre teaches music to some 80 Palestinian children from Jenin, its refugee camp and the surrounding villages. read more
Built in 1912 in the Victorian style, the Ward Theatre is the largest theatre in the English-speaking Caribbean and one of the grandest and most beautiful in the region. Already in a seriously decayed condition prior to the past hurricane season and no longer functioning as a performance venue, the theatre was nevertheless still in use for rehearsals. Recent hurricanes have caused the roof to collapse allowing water ingress and serious damages to the stage, furniture and rich ornamentation. The Theatre can now no longer even be used as a space for rehearsal. read more
The Nikozi monastery complex – dating to the fifth century - suffered badly from this conflict. In particular, the Episcopal Palace was directly bombed on 10 August and damaged in the resulting fire. The Episcopal Palace is one of the foremost examples of palatial architecture from the late medieval period to have survived. read more
On 28 December 2008 Israeli F16 fighters bombed the Faculty of Engineering of the Islamic University in Gaza, completely destroying the Center for Architectural Heritage (CAH). As was the only academic institution working in the field of architectural heritage, the CAH fulfills a unique role in Gaza. CER is supporting the CAH with a grant of € 23.000 euro that will enable it to purchase computer equipment and furniture that are necessary to enable the staff to resume their activities. Restoring the local capacity to undertake further heritage conservation projects will the CAH to continue its valuable work in documenting and raising awareness about in the architectural heritage in Gaza. read more
In 2008 the northern part of the Philippines was struck by several typhoons and hurricanes, which severely aggravated the already precarious state of conservation of the Church of San Raymundo de Peñaforte. Built in the Baroque style by the Dominican order in the 16th century, the Church has distinctive natural stonework not found in other churches in the country. read more
The Wadi Hadramut region was declared a disaster area by the Yemeni government. On 24-25 October flash floods and surging waters killed at least 80 persons and forced an additional 20,000 to 25,000 people into displacement. At least 3,300 predominantly mud-brick houses have been totally destroyed or damaged beyond repair, while hundreds of others became uninhabitable. read more
The homeland of the Manasir people is located at the Fourth Nile Cataract and will be submerged by the reservoir lake of the Hamdab High Dam (Merowe Multi-Purpose Hydro Project) in the immediate future. The water will wash away the culture and heritage of the Manasir people therefore action needed to be taken. read more
Beichuan was the region worst-affected by the Sichuan Earthquake. Nearly 20,000 people were killed (one in ten inhabitants) and 14 million people are displaced. 80% of the buildings in the old town and more than 60% of the buildings in the new town collapsed. The Beichuan County Library building also collapsed in the earthquake. Beichuan is the major residence of the Qiang ethnic minority whose history can be traced back to 566 AD. read more
CER will support the immediate restoration of James Island and the related CFAO Building (Compagnie Francaise d’Afrique Occidentale) at Albreda and the restoration of the Stone circle museum in Kerr Batch with an amount of € 44.300,- read more
The maritime region of the Lower Zio, especially the municipalities of Agbélouvé and Togblékopé, suffered damages due to the severe rain season and subsequent flooding Togo experienced in 2008. A reseach mission resulted in restorations in Agbélouvé and Togblékopé. read more
CER decided to support a second project in Togo which concerns restoring the Cemetery of Davié (municipality of Zio) the sacred tree and sacred forests in Assahoun (municipality of Avé) and the terracing of a sacred area on the shores of Lake Togo (Togoville). The Cemetery of Davié tells the history of the local population. read more
Following devastation wreaked by the cyclone in the region of Yangon and in the Irawaddy Delta, channels of information from Myanmar to the outside world have to a great extent stagnated. In order to identify the cultural needs and give support to the affected area, CER sought out a local partner who would be in a position to provide reliable information and undertake a research mission. read more
An active rebel army directly endangers the security of the valuable ancient cave-paintings in Dabous. This prime example of rock-art was previously regularly visited by tourists who were requested to pay a small fee which guaranteed the payment of the guards’ salaries. As a result of the turmoil in the region, tourists now avoid the region and the site has thereby lost its only source of income. read more
In November 2007 the roof covering the archives of the Matsieng Palace collapsed after heavy rains. The rain severely damaged the archives that contain a large part of the history of Lesotho.In addition to general historical information, the archives also contain personal histories that give an insight into family lives and the roots of the people of Lesotho. read more
In 2007 the town of Ica was severely devastated by an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale and its wave of aftershocks. ICOM (international Council of Museums) approached CER with a list of churches damaged by the catastrophe, leading to collaboration between CER and the National Institute for Heritage to restore the exceptional Church of El-Carmen. read more
CER is contributing to the rescue of the Muqaddam Ahmad Bin Omar Bassurah house in Daw’an, Hadramut (Yemen). The house has partly collapsed as the result of the heavy rainfall and flooding of May 2007. read more
In April 2007, CER supported a research mission that was set up in the aftermath of Hurricane Favio and the flooding that affected Mozambique. Two cultural emergency relief projects were identified as a result of this mission that consist of the archaeological sites at Manyikeni and Chibuene, both of which were seriously damaged by Hurricane Favio on 22 February 2007. CER has made it possible for these sites to be repaired. read more
Sri Lanka’s historic Malwana Fort suffered major damage as a result of the heavy rainfall and flooding of May 2007. With CER’s support the Fort’s walls and foundations have been stabilised so that this valuable community heritage can be preserved. read more
The mosque in the village of Rao-Rao was badly damaged by the earthquake that struck the province of West Sumatra on 6 March 2007. CER provided immediate assistance so that the roof and supporting walls could be reinforced in order to prevent the building’s collapse. read more
In March and April 2007, a number of provinces in Afghanistan suffered flooding, which was caused by heavy rainfall. CER provided immediate support to stabilise a synagogue and a mosque in the old city centre of Herat, both of which had been seriously damaged by the floods. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Afghanistan is carrying out the repairs. read more
The Mestassa mosque was severely damaged by the earthquake that struck Northern Morocco on 24 February 2004. CER provided immediate emergency relief to save the mosque. Its continued restoration has also been made possible through the support of the Dutch-based Morocco Fund. read more
CER is supporting the restoration of the roof and the digitalisation of the archive of UMAM Documentation and Research, a cultural centre and archive in Southern Beirut that was bombed during the conflict in July 2006. read more
Following the earthquake in Yogyakarta on 27 May 2006, CER supported the immediate restoration of the corner bastions of the Baluwerti Fort in Yogyakarta. read more
CER has supported the Imogiri community of batik-makers by building workplaces and a temporary museum. The Imogiri district of Yogyakarta was badly affected by the earthquake of 27 May 2006. read more
With Cordaid’s support, CER was able to reconstruct a manuscript library in Tanoh Abee, Aceh. The old library was damaged following the earthquake that caused the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The new library now ensures the preservation of this unique collection of Islamic manuscripts. read more
The Nias Heritage Museum was badly damaged by the earthquake of 28 March 2005. CER’s donation enabled the construction of a new, earthquake-proof depository for the museum’s collection. read more
Following the tsunami of 26 December 2004, CER provided immediate aid to the Komunitas Maestro, a recording and music studio in Banda Aceh. With CER’s support, equipment and instruments could be purchased for the studio so that Komunitas Maestro was able to resume its work. read more
CER’s support covered the reinforcement of two mansions in Nablus, which were damaged by military action. read more
Cultural Emergency Response has contributed 25,000 euro to enable work on the Maritime Archaeological Unit in Galle to be resumed immediately. read more
Cultural Emergency Response is facilitating the reopening of the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston that suffered considerable water damage in the wake of Hurricane Ivan on 10-11 September 2004. read more
Cultural Emergency Response contributed a donation of 1,200 euro for the repair of the roof of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Demethros in Nablus that covers an unusual wooden ceiling. In May of this year, the roof was damaged as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. read more
In the wake of the earthquake in Morocco on 24 Februrary 2004, Cultural Emergency Response contributed 25, 000 euro to the restoration and fortification of a 14 th Century Berber mosque in the village of Mestassa. read more
Over 2000 years old, the citadel of Bam in the South of Iran is the largest earthen structure in the world. On 26 December 2003 the oasis city was badly hit by an earthquake. The Citadel was extensively damaged. Cultural Emergency Response contributed 25,000 euro to saving the archive material and documenting the post-disaster situation. read more
Responding to the looting and destruction that followed the fall of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, Cultural Emergency Response offered 25,000 euro to the reconstruction of the Central Library of the University of Baghdad, Al –Waziriya site. read more
A CER action in Nablus, Palestina: The fortification of the supporting walls and facades of the Abu Sarrieh and Al-Sadder mansion. Copyright: Naseer Arafat
CER provides emergency relief for cultural heritages that have been affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Cultural Emergency Response
Prince Claus Fund
Herengracht 603
1017 CE Amsterdam
Tel. 31 (0)20 344 91 60
Fax 31 (0)20 344 91 66
E-mail cer@princeclausfund.nl
www.princeclausfund.nl
