Imagine waking up struggling to breathe, your lungs burning with every gasp. This isn't a scene from a dystopian novel; it's the reality for dozens of people in Gabes, Tunisia, right now. The culprit? Pollution from a nearby chemical factory. The situation is dire, with residents pointing fingers at the Tunisian Chemical Group (CGT) and its phosphate headquarters. Let's delve deeper into this environmental crisis and its impact on the community.
As reported by news agencies on October 14, 2025, over 120 individuals have been hospitalized in Gabes, a city located in southern Tunisia. The primary cause? A surge in respiratory problems, which locals are directly attributing to the emissions from a chemical factory operating in the vicinity. Tunisia's state-run TAP news agency specifically highlighted that children were among those admitted to Gabes University Hospital, suffering from breathing difficulties induced by the noxious fumes.
But here's where it gets controversial... While authorities pledged to gradually close the polluting site back in 2017, that promise remains unfulfilled, leaving residents vulnerable to the factory’s harmful emissions. A local official, as quoted by AFP news agency, confirmed that the number of hospitalizations had exceeded 120. Adding to the urgency, an education official informed Diwan FM radio channel that numerous students had also been admitted to the hospital. The health problems go beyond just respiratory distress. According to Ghofrane Touati, a local defence deputy chief, some patients are experiencing "leg pain, numbness, and loss of mobility," painting a grim picture of the widespread health consequences.
Tawfik Dhaifallah, a concerned resident, shared a heartbreaking account of his younger sister "suffocating because of the fumes" emanating from the industrial zone. He emphasized that these incidents occur frequently, approximately every two or three days, highlighting the constant threat posed by the factory.
These hospitalizations are not isolated incidents. They represent a significant spike in reported cases of respiratory ailments, which residents firmly believe are triggered by the fumes originating from the Tunisian Chemical Group’s (CGT) phosphate headquarters. And this is the part most people miss: The CGT site, despite authorities' 2017 pledge to phase it out, continues to operate, exacerbating the environmental crisis.
Years of pent-up frustration reached a boiling point on October 11, when residents, pushed to their limits, stormed the CGT complex, demanding its immediate closure. One protester, Khaireddine Dbaya, poignantly described the situation to Reuters news agency: "Gabes has turned into a city of death, people are struggling to breathe, many residents suffer from cancer or bone fragility due to the severe pollution." The peaceful protest soon turned violent when police responded with tear gas, chasing demonstrators through the city. Some protesters retaliated by attempting to set fire to a branch office of the CGT’s administration, while others blockaded roads, disrupting daily life.
The Gabes local council has voiced its support for the protesters' "legitimate" demands, advocating for the "dismantling of polluting chemical plants." However, the council also condemned the "acts of vandalism and violence" that transpired during the demonstration. Similarly, the Tunisian League of Human Rights has thrown its weight behind the protesters, calling for the dismantling of the polluting units and the implementation of an alternative regional development model that prioritizes environmental sustainability and reduces the devastating impact of pollution. But is complete closure truly the best solution, considering the economic importance of the phosphate industry?
These protests underscore the immense pressure on President Kais Saied’s government, which is already grappling with a severe economic and financial crisis. The government faces the daunting task of balancing public health concerns with the economic benefits derived from phosphate production, Tunisia’s most valuable natural resource. In an attempt to quell public anger, President Saied convened a meeting with the ministers of environment and energy, urging them to dispatch delegations to Gabes to conduct necessary repairs at the phosphate acid unit of the complex. He expressed his vision for "a green Tunisia free of all pollution." However, critics argue that these are merely superficial measures that fail to address the root cause of the problem.
Phosphate is undeniably a crucial resource for Tunisia's economy. However, for years, activists have been raising alarms about the detrimental pollution caused by the GCT, which directly releases its gaseous and solid waste into the environment, causing significant harm to the ecosystem and public health. The government's ambition to revive the phosphate industry by increasing production fivefold to 14 million tonnes by 2030, aiming to capitalize on rising global demand, raises serious questions about the long-term sustainability and environmental consequences of such a plan. Will the pursuit of economic growth come at the expense of the health and well-being of the residents of Gabes?
The promise made in 2017 to dismantle the Gabes complex and replace it with a facility adhering to international environmental standards has yet to materialize, leaving residents feeling betrayed and forgotten. This broken promise highlights the challenges of translating environmental commitments into tangible action. What are your thoughts on the situation in Gabes? Should the government prioritize public health over economic gains, or is there a way to strike a balance between the two? Share your opinions and concerns in the comments below.
