The restoration of this district of historical importance to old Istanbul has received the attention and support of UNESCO and The European Union, in collaboration with the Fatih district council and the scientific board of the Institut français d'études anatoliennes, the World Heritage Centre has undertaken an operation to protect the neighborhoods of Balat and Fener. You can see from my photo the level of deterioration of this mostly residential area. Here a dilapidated house in Balat is still inhabited.