New cases of asphyxia were recorded this Wednesday, November 5, 2025, among students at the Chott Essalem school in Gabès. The video, where we see children having difficulty breathing, was shared by the Stop Pollution movement.
This episode comes just a few weeks after the historic march of October 21, described as one of the most important citizen mobilizations in the region in years, during which residents, parents, teachers and associations denounced the environmental situation and its effects on children’s health.
The march was accompanied by a local general strike, marking the population’s desire to put pressure on for immediate measures. “ We did everything. Nothing has changed “, today, parents express their anger: ” We walked. We went on strike. We talked. Nothing has changed. Peaceful protests were of no use “. Many of them say they are heading toward escalation, refusing to let their children suffer further episodes of choking.
A march was held on the afternoon of Friday October 31 in Gabès, at the call of the “Stop Pollution” citizen movement. Participants once again called for the dismantling of the industrial units of the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT), accused of seriously harming the environment and the health of residents.
Gathered on the Souk Jara square, the demonstrators then marched to the Nazla area, close to Chatt Essalem, a symbolic place considered to be one of the most affected by pollution due to the proximity of the chemical complex’s factories. The previous demonstration had already brought together several thousand people, without any concrete measures being announced by the public authorities.
M.B.Z
