Meharrize

Meharrize (also transliterated Mheiriz, Mehaires; Arabic: محيرس) is an oasis located in Western Sahara. It is situated between Tifariti and Amgala, 93 km from Smara, to the east of the Moroccan Wall, and in the Polisario Front-held part of Western Sahara close to the Mauritanian border. It has a dispensary, a school, and a mosque. Also, it is the head of the 4th military region of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Mehaires محيرس Meharrize
Municipality and town
Mehaires Mehaires
Coordinates: 26°8′50″N 11°4′9″W
Territory	Western Sahara
Claimed by	Kingdom of Morocco Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Controlled by	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Government
• Type	Municipality[1]
Elevation	378 m (1,240 ft)

Infrastructure

During late June 2012, the Sahrawi minister of Construction and Urbanization of the Liberated Territories visited the town to supervise the family farms project and the construction of a school, opened in 2013.[2][3]

Politics

On June 17, 2007, the Polisario Front celebrated here the 37th anniversary of the Sahrawi uprising in 1970, the Zemla Intifada.[4]

Culture

In August 2008, Mheiriz hosted the III edition of the Summer University, for the Sahrawi students abroad. The students visited the historical archaeological sites in the region and profited from many conferences and lectures on different themes, such as religion, culture and security, in addition to other activities such as film projections and expositions.[5]

Twin towns - Sister cities

Berantevilla, Álava, Basque Country, Spain[6] Carranza, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain[7] Firenzuola, Florence, Tuscany, Italy[8] Lezama, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain[9] Markina, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain[10] Soria, Soria, Castilla y León, Spain (since May 8, 2008)[11]

References

1. "Allocating seats for the liberated territories in Parliament will be considered in the next election (Official)". Sahara Press Service. 2012-02-20. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
2. "Establishment of new municipalities in Saharawi liberated territories". SPS. 2012-07-01. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
3. "Academic year 2012-2013 officially kicks off". SPS. 2012-09-16. Archived from the original on 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
4. "POLISARIO Front will participate "with good faith" to the negotiations of Manhasset, the Saharawi President affirms". SPS. 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
5. "Opening of the Summer University in the liberated territory of Mheiriz". SPS. 2008-08-15. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
6. "Aytº de Berantevilla (Álava)" (in Spanish). Euskal Fondoa. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
7. "Aytº de Carranza (Bizkaia)" (in Spanish). Euskal Fondoa. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
8. Gemellaggi e Patti di Amicizia Regione Toscana - Consiglio Regionale, 27 March 2010 (in Italian)
9. "Aytº de Lezama (Bizkaia)" (in Spanish). Euskal Fondoa. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
10. "Aytº de Markina (Bizkaia)" (in Spanish). Euskal Fondoa. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
11. Convenio de Hermanamiento entre el Ayuntamiento de Soria y la daira de Mheiriz. Soria. 2008. Archived 2016-03-07 at the Wayback Machine Lefrig.org, 13 May 2008 (in Italian)