"A general strike and tens of thousands of protesters brought the southern Tunisian city of Gabes to a standstill, backing demands for the closure of a state chemical plant blamed for a pollution crisis. Shops, markets and schools shut down on Tuesday during the strike, halting economic activity in coastal Gabes in response to a call by Tunisia's main trade union, the UGTT."
"In 2017, the Tunisian government promised to gradually shut down the factory. However, earlier this year, authorities said they would instead ramp up production at the plant. Environmental groups have warned that marine life has been severely affected, with local fishermen reporting a dramatic decline in fish stocks over the past decade, impacting a vital source of income for many in the region."
Thousands of residents in Gabes staged a general strike and mass protests, demanding closure of the CGT phosphate chemical plant accused of causing severe pollution. Commerce, markets and schools closed as crowds carried banners and chanted for dismantling polluting units. Officials and activists link the plant to rising cancer and respiratory illness and damaged local ecosystems. The government promised a cancer hospital in Gabes but gave no timeline. A 2017 pledge to phase out the plant was reversed earlier this year when authorities moved to increase production. Fishermen report collapsing fish stocks and lost livelihoods.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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