TRIPOLI, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of internally displaced refugees from the Libyan city of Tawergha on Saturday demanded to return to their homes after years of displacement.
About 35,000 Tawerghans, who fled their homes in the 2011 uprising, have been living in refugee camps in several Libyan cities, including the capital Tripoli.
The refugees protested against their living conditions in the camps and demanded to immediately return to their own city.
"We are here today to demand the right of returning to our city, our land, our homes, and our schools. For seven years, we have been living in the camps of displacement as refugees in our own country," Amal Baraka, head of Producing Family organization of Tawergha, told Xinhua.
"Our demonstration today is to call no to violence against displaced women because, in addition to the misery in the camps and living as refugees and strangers in our homeland, displaced women are also subjected to extortion, violence, racism and disrespect for their humanity," she added.
A Tawerghan refugee camp in Tripoli was burned a few days ago, with no human casualties reported. Authorities said the incident was due to accidental short circuit.
UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj said on Saturday that important steps have been taken to "end the suffering of the people of Tawergha."
Serraj made his remarks during a meeting with Salem A'mesh, vice chairman of the local council of Tawergha.
"Prime Minister Serraj stressed that these steps will enable the people of Tawergha to start the process of returning to their city before the end of this year," the prime minister's media office said.
