In Iraq, the looting of artefacts has been on the rise since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the coronavirus, few tourists or foreign archaeologists now visit historical sites. As a result, many of these areas are left unguarded, at the mercy of looters. FRANCE 24’s Iraq correspondents spent time with those involved in the uphill struggle against this illicit trade.
Covid-19 pandemic sees sharp rise in looting of antiquities in Iraq
