Khartoum, May 18, 2026 (SUNA) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) renewed its commitment to supporting the protection of Sudan’s cultural heritage and rehabilitating museums damaged by the war, stressing that museums remain a cornerstone for preserving national memory and identity. In a statement marking International Museum Day, observed annually on May 18, UNESCO said that more than 20 museums across Sudan have been looted, destroyed, or subjected to trafficking since the outbreak of war in 2023, resulting in the loss of thousands of artefacts documenting ancient civilizations, including the Nubian, Kushite, Islamic, and African civilizations. UNESCO Director-General Khalid El-Enany said in a message marking the occasion that museums serve as spaces for dialogue and social interaction and contribute to building shared visions despite differences. He reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting museum collections, recovering cultural property, and combating illicit trafficking. UNESCO Representative in Sudan Mr. Ahmed Junaid Sorosh-Wal said protecting museums under the current circumstances means safeguarding national memory and identity, noting that museums remain symbols of unity and resilience for the Sudanese people. As part of its response efforts, UNESCO said it had implemented emergency interventions through the Heritage Emergency Fund, including damage assessments at five major museums: Kerma, Jebel Barkal, Red Sea, Ad-Damar, and Sennar museums. The assessments enabled urgent protection measures and guided emergency stabilization efforts.  The organization also announced the creation of a digital inventory documenting 1,737 artefacts, in addition to transferring collections from Ad-Damar Museum to Kerma Museum for safekeeping. It further trained 40 specialists in debris removal and explosive-risk management, helping restore safe access to museum sites. UNESCO revealed that the Sudan National Museum was subjected to extensive looting, with more than 4,000 artefacts reported missing, while affirming continued efforts in documentation, rehabilitation, and strengthening preservation and storage systems. The organization also intensified national programmes to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, training around 500 personnel from the heritage, customs, judiciary, and law enforcement sectors to improve their ability to identify smuggled artefacts, strengthen documentation and border-control procedures, apply international legal frameworks, and enhance institutional cooperation to recover stolen heritage. UNESCO expressed appreciation for support provided by the Italian government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, alongside the Heritage Emergency Fund, in implementing museum protection and rehabilitation projects in Sudan and laying the groundwork for heritage recovery and preservation efforts.BH/BH