ARCWH organises charity event for cyclone-hit Socotra

Bahrain-based Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARCWH) organised a charity event for the people of Socotra and their natural world heritage site.

The charity event was held under the patronage of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and with the support of Alliance Française.

As part of the charity event, an Oud concert featuring Iraqi musician Saad Mahmood Jawad was held, besides an exhibition of photos and sale of posters of Socotra.

The programme was held at the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in Manama. 

Socotra, Yemen’s legendary island, is very isolated and a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet.

It has been described as “the most alien-looking place on Earth”. 

However, on November 1, 2015, a rare and very violent cyclone hit the island, killing several people and injuring many.

A week later, another strong and massive cyclone, Megh, hit Socotra. 

The impact of the cyclones has been severe. Cyclone Chapala and Megh damaged 2,900 houses. The Island was hit by heavy rain and strong winds, and rising waves battered the coast.  

To this day, many people are still living in the street or in caves because their houses have been destroyed or badly damaged.

The ARCWH decided to support the people of Socotra to repair or rebuilt their home, to help them buy or repair fishing boats and equipment that have been damaged and to repair damaged infrastructure and schools. 

Socotra Island, which lies in the Indian Ocean some 230 miles off the coast of Yemen’s mainland,  is known for its unique vegetation and ecosystems. It is considered the jewel of biodiversity. It is also known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Socotra is known for its high density of biodiversity and endemism. Thirty per cent of plants are endemic and are found nowhere else on earth. 

The island was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage site in July 2008. 

The European Union has supported such a move, calling on both UNESCO and International Organisation of Protecting Environment to classify the island archipelago among the environmental heritages. 

Socotra, as a World Heritage Site, has been affected not only by hurricanes, but also by the consequences of the war
 in Yemen.   The ARCWH is a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO. 

It was established on February 5, 2010 as an autonomous and independent legal entity at the service of Arab States Parties to the World Heritage Convention.