A new report highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage in areas affected by conflict, drawing on the experience of the Sudan Memory project. The report, titled Digital heritage preservation for vulnerable collections: Reflections on the Sudan Memory project history and inventory, was written by Dr. Laura Gibson, a senior lecturer in digital content management education at King's College London, along with Sara El-Nager, an independent researcher and editor, and Dr. Hannah Ishmael, a lecturer in digital culture and race. The study is based on 14 interviews with people involved in the Sudan Memory project, which was the first large-scale digitization effort in Sudan. Since 2013, the project has digitized about 148,000 cultural items, including photographs, manuscripts, museum objects, audio and film, and even a 3D model of the historic Suakin Island. The project, led by Professor Marilyn Deegan from King's College London and supported by Sudanese and international partners, has grown in importance since war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, when looting and damage affected key cultural institutions like the National Museum and Khalifa House Museum. The authors of the report stress that cultural heritage is increasingly at risk due to both rising international conflicts and the effects of climate change. To help institutions better protect vulnerable collections, the report outlines five key recommendations. These include prioritizing training and mentorship to ensure local expertise continues even after funding ends, building trust with local communities from the start—especially regarding ownership and access of cultural items, designing projects to be flexible, mobile, and decentralized to handle instability, capturing oral histories and detailed background information alongside physical items, and using a "good enough" standard for digitization that fits the local context rather than aiming for perfect technical standards. Dr. Ikram Madani Ahmed, director of the Natural History Museum at the University of Khartoum, said that digitization has become more vital in Sudan’s current situation, where historical sites and collections are being destroyed. She noted that even if physical items are lost, digital records can help in rebuilding cultural memory. Issam Hafeiz, a photographer and private collector, emphasized that documentation is not only about objects, but also about people, places, and everyday life that might be lost in times of crisis. Professor Elizabeth Scott-Baumann, pro-vice dean for research impact and knowledge exchange at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, highlighted the role of the AHRC Impact Acceleration Account in preserving history and culture for future generations, by bringing together university and external experts to protect important heritage. The authors hope that the report’s recommendations, based on the Sudan Memory project, will help cultural institutions and agencies working in other conflict-affected regions. They believe the insights can support future efforts in transitional justice and post-conflict recovery, ensuring that cultural heritage is preserved and shared even in the most challenging circumstances.