Inclusion of the ancient water tanks in Aden in the Arab Urban Heritage Register.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Arabian Sea - Reuters: The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) has included the Tawila Tanks, an ancient network of water reservoirs carved into Mount Shamsan in Yemen, in the Arab Urban Heritage Register, in an achievement that is considered one of the most prominent recognitions of the ancient Yemeni cultural heritage. ALECSO, based in Tunis, is affiliated with the Arab League and is concerned with developing and coordinating cultural, scientific, and educational activities in the Arab world. The organization announced in July the inclusion of these tanks in the first batch of Arab urban heritage sites. The Tawila Tanks, located in the heart of Aden, reflect the ingenuity of the Yemenis in water management for centuries, as they met the needs of the city's residents and passing ships, and also contributed to protecting the city from floods caused by heavy rains. Haifa Makkawi, professor of archeology and Islamic civilization at the University of Aden, said: "The Tawila Tanks are one of the most important historical landmarks in Aden and Yemen, and now they are among the Arab heritage sites, with future hopes of including them in the World Heritage sites." She added that the original system of tanks included about 50 tanks, while today 18 tanks remain within the Tawila Tanks system after excavation and cleaning work. The inclusion of the Tawila Tanks in the Arab Heritage Register is an important step to promote interest in the cultural heritage in Yemen, attract researchers and visitors, and highlight the ingenuity of the Yemeni people and their ability to create advanced engineering systems for centuries. Anis Al-Kharraz, one of the visitors to the site, said: "To see the greatness of the Yemeni people, you must visit these archaeological sites, as they are evidence of the ingenuity of our ancestors and their civilizational achievements."