UNESCO will establish an observatory in Lebanon to monitor and assess Syria’s buildings, artefacts and intangible cultural heritage to combat illicit trafficking of items of historical significance from the war-torn region.

The move is also designed to collect the information required to restore the country’s heritage once fighting in the region settles down.

Based in Beirut, the Observatory will maintain an online platform where people can share information on damaged structures, looted artefacts and all forms of endangered heritage in Syria.

Syria’s archaeological sites, historic towns and monuments have been devastated since the start of the conflict in March 2011. All six of Syria's World Heritage sites have been placed on an endangered list by the World Heritage Committee (WHC), notably the Ancient City of Aleppo and the Crac des Chevaliers, with evidence that they have been used for military purposes, possibly being subjected to direct shelling and targeted explosions.

At a meeting entitled Rallying the International Community to Safeguard Syria’s Cultural Heritage more than 120 experts from 22 countries gathered to share information devise policies and improve international co-operation during the conflict and beyond.

The participants also called on the UN Security Council to consider a resolution to facilitate the restitution of stolen and illegally exported cultural objects from Syria and ban their sale and transfer.

Intangible cultural heritage - including cultural practices, performing arts and more - has also been exposed to serious damage due to social fragmentation, displacement and migration.

Maintaining heritage in war-torn countries has been a huge challenge, with Iraq’s National Museum a prime example. During the first three days of the conflict in 2003, more than 15,000 objects of historical importance looted over three days at the start of the conflict.