Image © Rami RizkA blast destroyed 40% of the city of Beirut on August 4, 2020. Five years after the port explosions, the UNESCO Director-General visited Lebanon to assess the institution's work in the capital city. Finally, in Tyre and Baalbek, both Phoenician cities listed as World Heritage sites, UNESCO has committed to funding seven artistic and craft projects. The Sursock Museum, a symbol of Beirut's cultural life, reopened in May 2023 after UNESCO-supported restoration. In July 2025, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO added 26 new World Heritage sites, emphasizing African heritage and shared prehistory.