LEBANON - The French Embassy in Beirut announced the launch of an emergency international fund to protect Lebanon’s cultural heritage, amid mounting risks linked to the ongoing regional conflict.

The initiative, announced on the occasion of the “Byblos, the Eternal City” exhibition, is led by the Arab World Institute (IMA) and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), with support from the French Development Agency (AFD).

The exhibition was opened at the Arab World Institute in Paris, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The fund aims to provide rapid intervention to safeguard archaeological sites, historic landmarks, museums and their collections across Lebanon.

The IMA has pledged €50,000 to protect the Byblos site, while ALIPH has contributed $100,000 to support the Tyre archaeological site and storage facilities of the Directorate General of Antiquities. The AFD has added €25,000 to the fund.

The “Byblos, the Ancient City of Lebanon” exhibition, organized in cooperation with Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture and featuring exceptional contributions from the Louvre Museum, showcases more than 400 rare artifacts, highlighting the rich history of the UNESCO-listed coastal city.

Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh welcomed the initiative, describing it as a “practical response” to the emergency facing Lebanon’s heritage.

He stressed that cultural heritage serves not only as a legacy to be preserved, but also as a unifying force in times of crisis, adding that the support comes at a critical moment for ongoing preservation efforts. Donations to the fund can be made through ALIPH.