Urgent Measures to Preserve the Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Dire Sheik Hussein Site

Dire Sheik Hussein in south-eastern Ethiopia is a rural religious walled settlement, which includes mosques, shrines, tombs, and other religious structures. A sacred center for Islamic pilgrimage for nearly 1,000 years, inscribed on the Ethiopia’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage, it hosts thousands of worshippers twice a year. Threatened by climate change, Dire Sheik Hussein suffers from erosion, extreme heat, and flooding. Under the project, the following activities are planned: monument conservation, drainage upgrades, reforestation, and the installation of shelters for pilgrims. The project also supports community engagement, capacity building, and climate education to safeguard both the site and its living traditions.