Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has selected Yemeni engineer Harbiya al-Hamiry for its annual list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world, recognizing her significant contributions to heritage preservation.
The UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen stated, “We are proud to announce the selection of Harbiya al-Hamiry, the Yemeni heritage engineer, as one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2024.” This recognition comes through UNESCO initiatives in Yemen, funded by the European Union and in partnership with the Social Development Fund.
Al-Hamiry, a heritage engineer, embarked on a mission to revive Yemen’s historical buildings after many were damaged by years of war. In collaboration with organizations like UNESCO, she has restored dozens of residential and heritage buildings in Old Sana’a and across the country. UNESCO conducted a survey that revealed damage to over 16,000 sites.
Her work extends beyond preserving heritage and historical sites, as it has also contributed to improving the quality of life for many people. Al-Hamiry has trained local residents in traditional construction crafts and inspired young girls to enter the field.
