The people of Gabes are living a nightmare. For years, they have endured an environmental crisis of staggering proportions, their health and livelihoods poisoned by the legacy of industrial pollution. As they face rising rates of respiratory disease, cancer, and other ailments, their suffering is not just a statistic; it is a national shame. The President himself has rightly termed it an “environmental assassination,” a powerful indictment of the criminal and archaic policies that brought this region to its knees.
The recognition from the highest levels of the state is a critical first step. Solidarity and promises of safety measures are welcome, but they are not nearly enough. The central question now is how to address this confusing and frightening reality. The situation demands a deep, structural, and lasting solution—one that is implemented without undermining the stability and social coexistence of the region.
There is no doubt that the residents of Gabes deserve a healthy environment; it is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. They have a right to a better life, not just for themselves, but for future generations. The gravest danger at this juncture, however, is the potential for this health and humanitarian imperative to be hijacked and twisted into a purely political tool.
We must be clear: the crisis in Gabes is the responsibility of successive governments, not merely the current one. For decades, previous administrations capitalized on this suffering, offering empty rhetoric while failing to deliver the practical programs and strategic reforms needed. This history of negligence only heightens the current government’s responsibility to act with wisdom, transparency, and a tangible commitment to end this tragedy. It cannot afford to be detached from the grim reality on the ground.
The deep pain and justifiable anger of the people of Gabes is a direct result of this systemic failure. Their right to a clean environment has been violated. In this volatile climate, all stakeholders must act with responsibility. Politicians and others who seek to deteriorate the situation for their own gain are playing with fire, causing further hardship at a most crucial time.
The path forward is difficult but unambiguous. The government, civil society, and all concerned parties must resist the temptation of short-term political points. The focus must remain unwavering on the core objective: to finally, and definitively, solve this long-standing health and economic disaster. The people of Gabes have waited long enough. They deserve action, not just words, and a future free from the shadow of pollution.
TunisianMonitorOnline (BRC)
