Tawergha

Tawergha
تاورغاء
Ghost town
Tawergha is located in Libya
Tawergha
Tawergha
Location in Libya
Coordinates: 31°58′15″N 15°03′09″E / 31.97083°N 15.05250°E / 31.97083; 15.05250
Country Libya
RegionTripolitania
DistrictMisrata
Government
 • MayorAbulmoola Adouma
Population
 (2006)[1]
 • Total
24,223
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)

Tawergha (Berber: ⵜⴰⵡⴻⵔⵖⴰ, Arabic: تاورغاء), also transliterated Tawargha, Tawarga, Tauorga, Taworgha, Tawurgha or Torghae, is, as of May 2021,[2][3] a former ghost town in Libya that is under administrative jurisdiction of the city of Misrata, which is 38 kilometers away. It was the site of intense fighting during the Libyan Civil War before it was captured and forcibly evacuated by anti-Gaddafi forces in August 2011.

By the end of the war in October 2011, the town was largely cleared of its population by NTC militias.[4] During Libya's political transition period, members of the General National Congress reportedly indicated they would like to see Tawerghan refugees restored to their homes, but expressed concern over their safety. There have been numerous reports of militias acting outside the authority of the Tripoli-based government threatening Tawerghans who have attempted to return to Tawergha.[5]

Tawergha means "the green island" in the Berber language.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Amraja M. el Khajkhaj, "Noumou al Mudon as Sagheera fi Libia", Dar as Saqia, Benghazi-2008, P.119.
  2. ^ "Libya — Intention Survey Of Tawergha IDPs (May 2021) | DTM". dtm.iom.int. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  3. ^ Murray, Rebecca: "One Year Later, Still Suffering for Loyalty to Gaddafi". Inter Press Service Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. ^ Gilligan, Andrew (11 September 2011). "Gaddafi's ghost town after the loyalists retreat". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  5. ^ Zaroug, Nihal (4 December 2012). "Tawerghans make desperate appeal to Libyan leaders as more families evicted". Retrieved 7 December 2012.