PARIS: With the support of international partners and the mobilization of $115 million, the UN cultural agency UNESCO recently helped rebuild the Iraqi city of Mosul after it was devastated by the Daesh group.
The restoration of the historic city’s iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret was just one of many programs run by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is in the spotlight because the United States is leaving it once again.
The decision to pull US funding and participation from UNESCO will deal a blow to its work preserving cultural heritage around the world. President Donald Trump exited the agency during his first term, accusing it of promoting anti-Israel speech. The Biden administration had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policymaking.
Beyond the diplomatic disputes, here’s a look at the work that UNESCO does:
World Heritage Sites
