- Title: War-damaged Benghazi lighthouse undergoes restoration
- Date: 23rd July 2019
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (RECENT) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING BY WAR-DAMAGED BUILDINGS / BENGHAZI LIGHTHOUSE DAMAGED BUILDINGS / LIGHTHOUSE CURRENTLY BEING RESTORED LIGHTHOUSE UNDERGOING RESTORATION RUBBLE / LIGHTHOUSE IN BACKGROUND LIGHTHOUSE DAMAGED BUILDINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARCHAEOLOGIST, FATHY AL-SAHELY, SAYING: "We cherish this lighthouse here in the city of Benghazi. We consider it as one of its symbols. We were born here and found the lighthouse already here before us. All the people of Benghazi cherish it. It is one of the landmarks of the city of Benghazi. It was damaged during the time of the city's liberation. It was attacked by strikes. The part at the top, which had the lighthouse (light source), fell inside." VARIOUS OF DAMAGED LIGHTHOUSE UNDERGOING RESTORATION DAMAGED BUILDINGS HOLES IN DAMAGED LIGHTHOUSE DAMAGED BUILDINGS / LIGHTHOUSE UNDERGOING RESTORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF PROJECTS AT THE BENGHAZI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, OSAMA AL-KAZA, SAYING: "The reason for the restoration is that some of the terrorist groups were concentrated at the lighthouse. They even used it to bury some of their dead. There were around 200 bodies buried inside. They damaged it, airstrikes hit the upper chamber where the lantern was present. This was removed completely during the conflict. The lantern is preserved, thank God, certain parts of it. We will return it to the chamber. But the primary reason for the restoration is that it was damaged by the war. We consider it a chance to start a process of restoration based on the standards required for these kinds of structures, the most modern standards used in restoring such old buildings." VARIOUS OF DAMAGED LIGHTHOUSE UNDERGOING RESTORATION DAMAGED BUILDINGS / LIGHTHOUSE UNDERGOING RESTORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BENGHAZI RESIDENT, SIDDIQ AL-SHARKASI, SAYING: "We hope, of course, that this problem is resolved. We hope for a small, metal stairwell so that we can look at it. It is like fiction. For most of the people here, this is a symbol of the neighbourhood of Sidi Khrebish. The best people that come out of this country are the people of Khrebish." BENGHAZI CITY/COAST
- Embargoed: 6th August 2019 11:20
- Keywords: Libya Benghazi Lighhouse Rennovation
- Location: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- City: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001AP027VB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A century-old lighthouse that has become a symbol of Benghazi's culturally rich past is now undergoing restoration after being brutally damaged by years of armed conflict.
Originally built in the 1920s during the Italian colonial era, and thereafter inaugurated in 1928, the lighthouse is one of Benghazi's oldest and most prominent historical landmarks, representing the neighbourhood of Sidi Khrebish.
The lighthouse is located at the highest point of terrain in Benghazi, and was once a source of guidance for ships, covering over 17 miles of open water, said the head of projects at Benghazi's local municipality, Osama al-Kaza.
It also acted as a large water tank, according to archaeologist Fathy al-Sahely, intended to raise water levels in the city.
Benghazi is no stranger to conflict and in much of the city some buildings still show bullet holes from World War Two, when Benghazi changed hands between British and German troops.
More recently, military commander Khalifa Haftar, a self-proclaimed foe of Islamists, launched an offensive in Benghazi in 2014. Fighting escalated between Haftar and his mostly Islamist opponents, some of whom took shelter in the lighthouse during the war.
According to Kaza, the restoration of the lighthouse come after war-damage inflicted by fighting, including damage from airstrikes.
The renovation project is meant to take back the lighthouse to its original state, said Kaza, adding that are expected to take 13 to 17 months.
The project was initiated and funded by Benghazi's local authority, which is part of Libya's eastern interim government, headed by Abdullah al-Thinni.
To residents of Benghazi, the Sidi Khrebish lighthouse is one of their most cherished landmarks, despite being wrought with bullet holes and breakage from the city's war-torn past.
One resident, Siddiq al-Sharkasi, looks forward to the moment the lighthouse is completely restored, adding that he hopes for a "small, metal stairwell" that allows him to wander through the historical structure.
"It is like something out of the imagination," said al-Sharkasi.
(Production Nadeen Ebrahim, Ayman Warfelli) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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