Following France’s decision to pledge €28m (US$30m, £23.8m) towards the protection of cultural heritage sites during conflicts, world donors have followed up on the declaration by pledging a further €45m (US$49m, £39m) to aid the effort.

Hoping to eventually attract €93m (US$100m, £79m) for the fund, French President Francois Hollande announced the move in December last year. In addition to France’s €28m pledge, €18.5m (US$20m, £16m) will be committed by Saudi Arabia, €14m (US$15m, £12m) by the UAE, €4.6m (US$5m, £4m) from Kuwait, €2.7m (US$3m, £2.4m) from Luxembourg and €1.4m (US$1.5m, £1.2m) from Morocco. Philanthropist Thomas Kaplan has also pledged €924,000 (US$1m, £802,000).

Created in coordination with Unesco, the fund will be used to prevent destruction of historical sites, fight increasing problems of illegal trafficking of stolen artefacts and pay for the restoration of heritage sites damaged during war or conflicts.

The fund will also be used to create a world network of sites where damaged or endangered artefacts can be stored temporarily for safekeeping.

Switzerland’s government has offered administrative and legal support for the cause and will also host the fund in Geneva. Italy, which in 2015 called for a UN force to protect heritage sites, has offered to provide military personnel and conservation experts.

Swathes of the Middle East’s heritage has been at the mercy of ISIS as the terrorist group wages war on the region. Unesco has previously suggested the formation of protected cultural zones – areas where there would be an enhanced focus on preventing attacks on cultural heritage and illicit trafficking in cultural properties.

ISIS has levelled entire ancient cities on its warpath, decimating historical collections. The group recently destroyed a selection of priceless artefacts in Mosul, and has bulldozed sites more than 2,000 years old. Syria’s heritage has also been badly impacted, with all six of its Unesco sites destroyed during the conflict.