Twelve years ago, Youssef Kanjou fled the civil war in Syria. Now, the former director of the National Archaeological Museum in Aleppo has visited his homeland for the first time. The 53-year-old will report on his impressions and experiences on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tübingen District Office.
Kanjou, who now lives with his family in the district of Tübingen and works for the news platform tuenews INTERNATIONAL, was shocked: “I didn’t think the situation in Syria was that bad.” People are suffering from the poor economic situation and international sanctions. There is hardly any work. Food is scarce. Electricity and water are rationed.
Damaged cultural sites in Syria
Many cultural sites are under threat. “Syria’s cultural heritage, thousands of years old, has suffered immense damage as a result of the war that has been raging since 2011,” says the archaeologist. The citadel of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site, was severely damaged. Parts of the National Museum in Aleppo, with its archaeological treasures, have also been destroyed. But there is hope for restoration and preservation in the future, Kanjou is confident. He is counting on help from Germany and is looking for supporters.
More information about the journey of Youssef Kanjou can be found at:
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