Mali
Timbuktu Manuscripts II Astronomy-Mathematics, © 2007, EuorAstro Mission to Mali
Since the beginning of 2012 the situation in Mali has progressively worsened. With the destruction of the Saint Shrines in the summer of 2012, the war on Mali's cultural heritage reached an unprecedented high. In early 2013 news reached the world that rebels had set ablaze the library of Timbuktu. It was later discovered that this was not wholy true and while the rebels did destroy some of the written heritage, the vast majority of the Timbuktu library and archive had been evacuated earlier.
UNESCO formed a working group in response to Mali's cultural emergency situation. IFLA is represented on this group through former IFLA President Ellen Tise. The group has formulated an action plan which begins with a site visit to assess the situation and the determine the help needed. IFLA is actively involved with this group in order to guarantee the safekeeping of the written cultural heritage, as well as the restoration and adequate training for the cultural custodians in Mali.
IFLA has also created a resource register which will bring together the resources of IFLA in Mali, in order to help the work of UNESCO and Blue Shield with the safeguarding of Mali’s cultural heritage.
If you would like to help us build our resource register please contact Julia Brungs.
Última actualización: 27 Junio 2013