Dozens of people have been hospitalized in Gabes, a city in southern Tunisia, with residents attributing the health issues to pollution from a nearby chemical factory. The reported cases include respiratory distress and other serious symptoms.
According to state-run TAP news agency, children experiencing breathing difficulties were admitted to Gabes University Hospital on Tuesday. AFP cited a local official who stated that over 120 individuals had been hospitalized in the city. Meanwhile, Diwan FM radio reported that several students were also admitted to hospitals.
In addition to respiratory problems, some patients suffered from leg pain, numbness, and loss of mobility, as noted by Ghofrane Touati, the local defense deputy chief. Resident Tawfik Dhaifallah described his younger sister suffering from suffocation due to fumes from the industrial zone, which he said occurs every two or three days.
These hospitalizations are part of a recent surge in health concerns linked to emissions from the Tunisian Chemical Group’s (CGT) phosphate headquarters. Authorities had pledged to gradually close the site in 2017 but have not yet taken action. Years of public frustration led to a protest on October 11, when residents demanded the closure of the facility.
Gabes resident Khaireddine Dbaya told Reuters that the city has become “a city of death,” with many suffering from cancer or bone fragility due to severe pollution. The protest turned violent, with police using tear gas and chasing demonstrators through the streets. Some protesters attempted to set fire to a CGT office, while others blocked roads, according to local media.
The Gabes local council expressed support for the “legitimate” demands of the protesters, calling for the dismantling of polluting chemical plants. It also condemned acts of vandalism and violence. Similarly, the Tunisian League of Human Rights backed the protesters, urging the dismantling of polluting facilities and the development of an alternative regional model to reduce pollution and its effects.
The protests highlight growing pressure on President Kais Saied’s government, which is already dealing with a deep economic and financial crisis. Balancing public health concerns with the production of phosphate—a key natural resource—has become a pressing challenge.
To address public anger, Saied met with the ministers of environment and energy on Saturday, urging them to send teams to Gabes to carry out necessary repairs at the phosphate acid unit. He emphasized his vision of a “green Tunisia free of all pollution.”
Phosphate remains Tunisia’s most valuable natural resource, but activists have long raised concerns about the environmental impact of the CGT, which discharges waste directly into the environment. In 2017, authorities committed to dismantling the Gabes complex and replacing it with a facility meeting international standards, citing the danger posed by its emissions. However, this plan has yet to be implemented.
At the same time, the Tunisian government aims to boost the phosphate industry by increasing production fivefold to 14 million tonnes by 2030, capitalizing on rising global demand.
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