The cultural heritage of South Lebanon is facing unprecedented threats as a result of the ongoing war. This rich and diverse heritage encompasses historic villages, public spaces, traditional architecture, cultural and religious landmarks, agricultural landscapes, historic roads, markets, cemeteries, archives, libraries, documentary collections, photographs, and oral traditions. Together, these tangible and intangible expressions embody centuries of cultural continuity, collective memory, and community identity. 

The significance of this heritage has been recognized internationally, with several sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and, more recently, included under UNESCO’s Enhanced Protection mechanism in 2024 and 2026. Yet recognition alone cannot guarantee protection. Safeguarding South Lebanon’s cultural heritage requires coordinated action at the local, national, and international levels, bringing together the protection of physical sites, the preservation of documentary and oral heritage, and the active participation of local communities. It is as well an investment in recovery, resilience, and social cohesion that ensure that future generations inherit a living record of their history and cultural legacy. 

In light of the increasing risks facing the cultural heritage of South Lebanon, the Modern Heritage Observatory calls for urgent and coordinated action to: 

1. Ensure respect for and protection of cultural heritage sites and historic settlements in accordance with international humanitarian law and relevant international conventions concerning the safeguarding of cultural property. 
2. Mobilize international organizations, cultural institutions, and heritage protection bodies to support emergency safeguarding measures and technical assessment missions. 
3. Monitor, document, and publicly report damage affecting historic houses, heritage buildings, archaeological remains of South Lebanon. 
4. Undertake comprehensive field and archival surveys of sites that have been damaged or remain at risk, in cooperation with municipalities, heritage specialists, property owners and local communities. 
5. Implement emergency stabilization and protection measures to prevent further deterioration, inappropriate demolition, looting, neglect, or irreversible loss. 
6. Address relevant public authorities to fulfill their legal and institutional responsibilities for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage. 
7. Strengthen the participation of local communities not only as witnesses but as key partners in the identification, documentation, safeguarding, and revitalization of heritage resources. 
8. Develop a long-term framework for recovery that integrates conservation, restoration, research, documentation, education, and sustainable heritage management. 
9. Promote recognition of the cultural heritage of Jabal Amel as an essential component of the region’s historical identity, cultural diversity, and social cohesion.

The Modern Heritage Observatory (MoHO) is a network of cultural heritage actors founded in 2011. It aims to advocate for the preservation of modern cultural heritage, with emphasis on architecture, photography, music, and film. Participating members in alphabetical order: Arab Center for Architecture (ACA), ATHAR-Preservation and Documentation, AUB University Libraries, Bibliothèque Orientale (USJ), Foundation for Arab Dramatic Arts (FADA), Foundation for Arab Music Archiving & Research (AMAR), Orient-Institut Beirut, Sursock Museum, The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) Library, and UMAM Documentation and Research.