A church in Iraq destroyed by the Islamic State is slowly being restored to its former glory.
Restoration work has begun at the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul, also known as Al-Saa'a Church, which dates back to the 1800s.
It is one of two destroyed landmark churches being restored as part of a partnership between UNESCO and the United Arab Emirates, the other being the Al-Tahira Syriac-Catholic Church.
"With the official approval from The Dominican order, UNESCO — in close collaboration with relevant authorities — will now start the stabilization and rehabilitation of The Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul," UNESCO said.
"This project's component will include all the phases of a stabilization and rehabilitation project — from site clearance and initial survey to the preparation of the detailed design for the actual execution of the works."
Our Lady of the Hour is located in the heart of the historic Old City of Mosul, it was badly damaged by ISIS militants when they blew it up in 2017, causing the roof to collapse.
UNESCO said the restoration of the church was important not only because of its cultural significance but also its status as a "living example of the brotherhood between Moslawis".
"The rehabilitation of this church is important not only because of its value as cultural heritage but also as a testimony to the diversity of the city, a proud crossroads of cultures and a peaceful haven for different religious communities over the centuries," UNESCO said.
Commenting on the landmark's architectural significance, the international body said: "Each viewer coming from Nineveh or Al-Farouq Street would see the Al-Hadba Minaret first then the bell tower of the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Hour, or vice-versa.
"This architectural and urban feature is engraved in the memory and history of the people and of the city and is emblematic of the cultural diversity and peaceful co-existence between its communities."
The UAE is a financial backer of the restoration work, which is part of UNESCO's international initiative, 'Revive the Spirit of Mosul'. The initiative includes plans to construct a museum and memorial site.
