Old Cities Revitalization Program Al-Taawon (Welfare Association) concluded a specialized training course titled "Strengthening and Supporting Historical Buildings in Emergencies – First Aid." This course was part of the "Quality Urban Development and Sustainable Interventions - Rehabilitation for Revitalization" project (QUDSI-R4R), funded by the European Union and supervised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Held via the Zoom platform during March and April 2025, the course included 9 training sessions with the participation of 27 male and female engineers from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It aimed to build the participants' capacities in rapid intervention to rescue historical buildings during emergencies and disasters. The training was supervised by a group of regional and international experts: Dr. Jean Yasmine, Dr. Ayman Hizallah, and Mr. Abdel Hamid Salah.
The course covered a range of theoretical and practical topics, including: concepts of emergency management for cultural heritage, risk assessment and response plan development, first aid for historical buildings, the importance of documentation and coordination during rescue operations, and an introduction to post-disaster recovery.
A number of participants expressed their appreciation for the content provided. Engineer Hafez Al-Ashhab stated: "We thank you for your dedicated efforts; the course had a very positive impact." Contractor Ashraf Amirah added: "Thanks are extended to everyone who contributed to the success of this distinguished program."
This course reflects Al-Taawon (Welfare Association) ongoing commitment to protecting Palestinian cultural heritage by building capacities and enhancing preparedness to deal with crises. It is part of a series of qualitative programs that seek to preserve the historical and societal identity of Palestinian cities.
