By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 26 January 2018:
Trucks and diggers have begun clearing the roads leading to and inside the town of Tawergha in preparation for the long awaited return of locals on the 1 February.
A statement by the Presidency Council said the streets were littered with debris and that sand was piled high. The local government minister Bidad Gansu was in Tawergha to oversee efforts and follow up on plans to return the people of the town after seven years.
Preparations have ramped up in recent weeks with various meetings held between Misratan, Tawerghan, government and UN officials.
Yesterday, representatives of the International Organisation for Migration and the ministry tasked with displacement met to discuss basic needs in Tawergha such as health, education and water.
Also looked at was making sure there would be easy access to mental health treatment for locals and ensuring basic infrastructure was ready and functioning.
Tawerghans have finally been allowed back following a PC-brokered agreement between the former’s town and Misrata in June of last year. Locals have been displaced since 2011 after some of their fighters sided with Qaddafi and tortured pro-revolutionary Misratan brigades.
It followed a Tawerghan demonstration outside PC headquarters calling for a return to their hometown. PC head Faiez Serraj assured them they would be allowed back and compensated for their losses.
Some have accused the PC of dragging its feet and not doing enough to ease the suffering of former residents.
