Bingazi'de Tarımsal Kalkınma Amaçlı Göçmen İskanı (1851-1904)

Today's Libya, which from 1551 forward was attached to the Ottoman state for centuries and administered by units stationed in Trablusgarb, was formally attached to the Ottoman administrative system in 1835. In the following years, particularly in the agricultural sector, a number of developmental programs were enacted. Within this framework the region of the Ahdar Mountains (located between Bingazi and Derne), which was home to wild olives was developed with the objective of increasing the agricultural vialibility of the Bingazi district. Initial plans to settle nomadic Arab tribes in this region were unsuccessful. Subsequently efforts to settle Circassian refugees from the Caucasus were undertaken. This too, despite a number of preparations, did not obtain the desired result. Ultimately in 1898 a decision was undertaken to resettle 1000 families (5000 individuals) of Muslims refugees from the island of Crete in this region. In the end close to 4000 of these refugees arrived in Bingazi. However these refugees did not stay for any length BİNGAZİ'DE TARIMSAL KALKINMA AMAÇLI GÖÇMEN İSKÂNI 53 of time. As a result of the tribulations they were subjected to the majority soon left the region. In the end only 250 households (1250-1300 individuals) were successfully settled in the region.