- In the city of Gebes, life has come to a standstill
- Demand to close the factory which is threatening people’s lives
Tunis: Protests erupted in Tunisia’s Gabes city over a government-run chemical plant. Locals have expressed their anger that this factory has become a threat to life by emitting pollution. Thousands of people went on strike on Tuesday demanding the immediate closure of a chemical plant that is causing the pollution crisis. As a result, life in the city came to a standstill. Shops, markets, schools, cafes were closed. Economic activities were paralyzed. The agitation is going on in the city as per the call given by the UGTT labor union.
Government is operating GGT Phosphate Plant in Gabes city. It has been spewing pollution for many years and playing havoc with the lives of local people. Critics have expressed concern that the health of thousands of people has been put at risk because of this. As part of the strike, thousands of locals staged a massive demonstration. ‘Gabes wants to live’, destroy the polluting plants’ they chanted. UGT local representative Saseen Nicer said that Gabes city was paralyzed due to the strike and educational institutions were closed. He said that all the people are angry about the environmental disaster in the city.
Protest against the President
The population of Gabes city is about four lakhs. In recent times, people have come to the streets and held protests there. They are demanding immediate closure of the plant. These protests posed a challenge to President Qais Saeed, who took extraordinary powers in 2021. He described the current situation as ‘environmental murder’. People are suffering from cancer and respiratory problems due to pollution and blame it on the past rulers. They are blamed for damaging local ecosystems.
A plan to further increase production
A chemical plant started in 1972 at Gabes producing fertilizers. Radioactive wastes and phosphogypsum (a chemical used in the production of phosphate fertilizers) are entering the sea and air.
They are responsible for the spread of toxic gases, increase in cancer cases and destruction of marine life. More than 200 people have been hospitalized recently with severe respiratory problems and exposure to toxic gases. This factory is poisoning the trees, the sea… and eventually the people too. The taste of pomegranate is also changing. Although the government had promised in 2017 that the plant would be closed in a phased manner, no steps have been taken in that direction. Moreover, it is planned to increase the production this year. Officials argue that phosphate is the pillar of the country’s economy. Officials said that urgent measures are being taken to control air emissions and Chinese companies have been brought in to help in this matter.
