Tunisia: Persistent pollution in Gulf of Monastir, FTDES reiterates call for environmental state of emergency
Noting the persistence of domestic and industrial pollution from the wastewater treatment plants of the National Office of Sanitation (ONAS) and factories at the Sayada-Lamta-Bouhjar station, the foul odours emanating from them, the death of numerous marine species (fish, crabs, etc.) and the yellowing of the sea in this area, the FTDES called for this 'hemorrhage,' which has been going on for more than 20 years, to be stopped.
The forum also recalled the ordeal of the inhabitants of the towns of the Gulf of Monastir, particularly those of Ksibet el-Médiouni, Lamta and Sayada, denouncing the authorities' laissez-faire attitude towards the pollution generated by the Sayada-Lamta-Bouhjar treatment plant, which has been out of service for many years, causing serious environmental, economic and social consequences.
The FTDES further pointed out that agreements reached with civil society, notably those regarding the shutdown of the plant and its conversion into a pumping station, have not been implemented, sparking protests and widespread discontent among Gulf communities.
Emphasising the right of residents to a healthy environment, the Forum urged the environmental authorities to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and to stop the pollution, demanding that all those responsible for these environmental violations be held accountable.
The FTDES considered that the lack of political will to resolve the pollution problem in the Gulf of Monastir will reinforce social unrest, exacerbate feelings of injustice and exclusion, and undermine citizens' confidence in state institutions and their ability to protect fundamental rights.
© Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Tunisia: President Saied urges measures against environmental violations
Tunis – President Kais Saied on Thursday gave instructions to take urgent measures, in coordination with all relevant departments, to put an end to the ongoing and flagrant environmental violations that have persisted for years, and to protect the coastal strip across all regions of the country, pending the adoption of a new strategy aimed at definitively ending the squandering of public funds and all forms and sources of environmental pollution. During a meeting with Environment Minister Habib Abid, the President recalled that a healthy environment is a human right, as quoted as saying in a Presidency of the Republic press release. 'The State, under the Constitution, is obligated to guarantee the right to a sound and balanced environment, to contribute to climate safety, and to provide the necessary means to eliminate environmental pollution.' Saied paid an unannounced visit late Wednesday night to Monastir governorate to assess the environmental situation in the Gulf of Monastir. He visited the beach in the delegation of Ksibet El Mediouni, which recently witnessed an environmental disaster, where he spoke with several citizens who expressed their discontent over the catastrophic environmental conditions. Following that, the President went to the water pumping station in the city of Lamta, then to the city of Sayada, before heading at dawn to the wastewater discharge sites in the areas of El Amoud and M'Riguib in the delegation of Menzel Temime, and to the Ain Garnez area in the delegation of Kelibia in Nabeul governorate. MP for the delegations of Kelibia and Hammam El Ghzez Fadhel Ben Turkia told reporters on Thursday that the Head of State observed during his visit to Kelibia, specifically to Oued El Hajar, the 'catastrophic environmental situation in the wadi, which has become a dumping ground for waste, garbage, and polluted water discharged by nearby factories.' He explained that Oued El Hajar has become a serious environmental problem, particularly as its waters flow directly into the beach of Ain Grinz, 'which is likely to be declared off-limits for swimming due to its disastrous environmental condition.' He pointed out that the environmental situation now poses a real threat to the region, which is considered one of Tunisia's most beautiful tourist destinations. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Tunisia: Head of State assesses environmental situation in Monastir
Tunis – President Kaïs Saïed paid an unannounced visit at midnight on Wednesday to the governorate of Monastir, where he assessed the serious environmental situation in the Gulf of Monastir. He visited the beach of Ksibet El Mediouni, which was recently affected by an ecological disaster. On site, the President spoke with local residents, who voiced deep concern over the dire environmental conditions. He then proceeded to the "Sayada-Lamta-Bouhjar" wastewater treatment plant in the town of Lamta, before continuing his visit to the Sayada area. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Zawya
Tunisia: Head of State calls for urgent legal frameworks to protect healthcare workers' rights
TUNIS - President Kais Saied emphasised during his meeting Tuesday, at the Carthage Palace, with Minister of Health, Mustapha Farjani, the necessity of urgently establishing a new legal system that preserves the rights of doctors, paramedical staff and workers and safeguards their dignity. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the Head of State noted that Tunisia takes pride in graduates from medical schools, stating that it has a school whose graduates shine all over the world. A clear indication of this is the large number of doctors and paramedical staff who have gone abroad for work. "Even the most prestigious medical schools in the world do not hesitate to invite our best professionals to work with them," he was quoted as saying in the statement. The President of the Republic explained that Tunisia is, in fact, lending to many countries in ways that are priceless, beyond valuation in either Tunisian or foreign currencies. He stated that Tunisia is the one doing the lending, yet it still needs to borrow due to domestic conditions that have accumulated over decades, and because many countries abroad rely on our skilled professionals. So, he asked: who is really lending to whom? The Head of State pointed out that work is ongoing on all fronts, including the health sector, stressing the citizen's right to health and the urgent need to take measures while awaiting the reconstruction of this public facility across all regions of the republic. This constitutional right, indeed a human right, must be realised as soon as possible in practice. The President of the Republic also addressed the role played by several doctors in Tunisia during the national movement in the liberation struggle for independence, such as Dr. Habib Thameur, Ahmed Ben Miled, who was known as the doctor of the poor, and Sliman Ben Sliman, who not only joined the national liberation movement but also supported all liberation movements worldwide. Additionally, Tawhida Ben Cheikh was described as the doctor of the poor alongside her role in founding the Social Relief Association, establishing an orphanage and another for women, among many others. Furthermore, those who established the Faculty of Medicine in Tunisia in the early 1960s left their positions abroad and returned to Tunisia to be the first nucleus of the Tunisian medical school. President Kais Saied concluded by affirming that public health will recover, and patients in Tunisia will receive all necessary care and support. He reiterated his firm stance that many economic and social issues must be addressed through a comprehensive national approach. He emphasised that for those who have caused harm and for those whose hearts still harbor ill intentions, the remedy lies in new legislation, frameworks imbued with a spirit of patriotism and fair accountability. No other remedy will work for those corrupted by a decaying system concerned only with creating crises and oppressing citizens. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
