Abdelkarim: "Contents of Syrian museums are in good condition"

The Director of the Archaeology and Museums General Directorate Mamoun Abdelkarim said that the Directorate had managed to protect around 99% of the contents of Syria’s museums throughout the past four years, employing swift and effective steps to carry that out. He said said that militant organizations have done much damage to Syria’s cultural and historical heritage, carrying out acts of looting and vandalism of archaeological sites.

Regarding archaeological sites, which number over 10,000 across Syria, Abdelkarim said that steps were taken to ensure their protection in cooperation with local communities, but despite that several sites sustained considerable damage in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, Hasaka, Hama, and Daraa. He said that there are hundreds of mercenaries working with organized crime networks that are operating in Syria and attempting to steal archeological artifacts, calling on the international community to act to prevent the smuggling of Syrian antiquities and track down stolen artifacts. As for museums, Abdelkarim said that they are in good condition barring some damage to the buildings, as most of the museums’ contents are perfectly secured and preserved, except for some instances in Raqqa and in Deir Attiye, praising the role played by local communities in preserving heritage sites from theft and vandalism.

Source: Syrian Radio and TV: 'Abdelkarim: Contents of Syrian museums are in good condition'.