In Tunis, Flamingos Wade Past Waste in Key Africa Wetlands

In Tunis, Flamingos Wade Past Waste in Key Africa Wetlands
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In Tunis, Flamingos Wade Past Waste in Key Africa Wetlands

In Tunis, Flamingos Wade Past Waste in Key Africa Wetlands

Hundreds of flamingos wade past waste in the murky waters of the vast Sijoumi lagoon, a critical wetland in the heart of Tunisia's capital threatened by overexpansion.

Once set apart from the city, today half of Tunis' residents live on the banks of the "sebkha", or mudflat, where more than 100,000 birds of around 100 different species spend winter.

The birds' human neighbors complain of pollution, recurrent flooding and swarms of mosquitos from the lagoon, one of North Africa's most important wetlands that became a dumping ground during decades of urbanization.

A government-led project that includes buildings, concrete embankments, and digging into the mudflat aims to control pollution and regenerate the habitat, but some environmental groups have pushed back against the initiative.

Hamdi, a 31-year-old shopkeeper in the working-class district of Sidi Hassine, hopes the project will beautify the area and solve the "problem of plastic waste and flooding from rainwater".

The lagoon plays a vital role not only in absorbing the overflow of water during heavy rains, but also as a breeding ground for the flocks of migratory birds that gather there at the end of winter.

But as rural populations flocked to Tunis, unauthorized building flourished in the former agricultural suburbs of the city and the lagoon became a dump for waste, mainly from construction.

- A place to avoid -

More than 1.8 million cubic meters of solid waste is estimated to have been disposed of in the lagoon since 2009, according to a government study.

As a result, the 2,600-hectare lagoon has been unable to absorb as much rainwater during downpours, leading to flooding that often forces businesses and schools to close.

Since 2015, Tunisian authorities have been studying a project to clean up the lagoon and protect the area from flooding, while developing its economic potential through further construction.

Around 48 percent of Tunis residents live around the lagoon, according to the latest census from 2014, and the surrounding neighborhoods are particularly densely populated, with some 2,800 people per square kilometer.

The north of the lagoon is lined with brick and concrete buildings that were erected without authorization.

A part of the southern banks has remained untouched and serves as a refuge for ducks, flamingos and gulls.

But most people avoid even the wild parts of the lagoon, with its olive trees and poppies at the water's edge, as the area is seen as dirty and a place to avoid.

Industrial and domestic sewage spews into the lagoon and the battered wreckage of cars and trucks are piled up on the banks.

- 'Lung of the capital' -

Given its diversity, the lagoon was added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 2007, and it is considered the fourth most significant wetland in North Africa.

Nadia Gouider, director of the government's Sijoumi lake project, said the development must be sustainable and aim to "save and support the lung of the capital".

But environmental activists are concerned about the potential impact of the project, whose cost could reach 130 million euros (more than $153 million).

The development of two business districts, Lac-1 and Lac-2, in a large marshy area nearby in the early 1990s has already caused most flamingos to flee to Sijoumi and other wetlands.

Imen Rais, an expert with environmental group WWF, warned of the negative impact of wetland decline in Tunisia, underlining its importance to minimize the "phenomena linked to climate change like floods, drought and storms".

Hichem Azafzaf, scientific coordinator for a bird protection association, said: "We aren't against the development project in general."

But, he added, as he scanned the lagoon from a wooden observatory through binoculars, "we are against the current version", which includes deepening the lagoon.

"Many birds will be deprived of food because they can't dive deep."

Gouider said this shouldn't be a problem as "only one third of the lake's surface will be deepened by about one meter (three feet), which will leave space for the birds".

In any case, she added, between backfilling, illegal dumping and unregulated building, "if we do nothing, the lagoon will disappear".



Homeless Seek Refuge at Madrid Airport as Rents Soar

A police officer checks documents of homeless people in Terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid, on May 28, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
A police officer checks documents of homeless people in Terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid, on May 28, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
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Homeless Seek Refuge at Madrid Airport as Rents Soar

A police officer checks documents of homeless people in Terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid, on May 28, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
A police officer checks documents of homeless people in Terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid, on May 28, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Victor Fernando Meza works during the day, but his salary is not enough to afford rent in the Spanish capital Madrid. So, once again, the 45-year-old Peruvian will spend the night at the airport.

On a sweltering May evening, Meza arrived at Barajas airport before 9:00 pm -- just in time to get past security. Any later, and people without a boarding pass are not allowed in under a new policy implemented a week ago to deter the hundreds of homeless people staying overnight.

The measure aims to address the rising number of people sleeping in Spain's busiest airport -- a situation thrust into the spotlight by images showing rows of people lying on the floor among bags and shopping carts, sparking a blame game between government officials.

Those who call Barajas home say the increased scrutiny in Europe's fifth busiest airport is unwelcome.

They doubt solutions will come and fear losing what they see as the safest place to sleep, compared to the streets or the metro in a city where homeless shelters have limited capacity.

"We just want to be left alone," Meza told AFP. "To be treated like people, not animals."

Meza blames Aena, the state-owned company that manages Spanish airports, for mishandling the humanitarian situation that has also occurred to a lesser extent in Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife.

Aena argues its facilities were never meant to house hundreds of homeless people.

'Look down on you'

Meza said the Barajas security guards know those who cause trouble in the airport.

"The ones who smoke, the ones who drink every day. They should be the ones kicked out, not all of us," he said.

Meza works occasional moving jobs and is hoping to save enough to rent an apartment with his brother. But like elsewhere in Spain, housing prices in the capital have soared and social housing is scarce.

The average monthly rent for a 60-square-meter (645-square-foot) apartment in Madrid has almost doubled to 1,300 euros ($1,415) from about 690 euros a decade ago, according to figures from real estate website Idealista.

Sleeping in Madrid's airport has taken a toll on Meza.

"People look down on you, there's still a lot of racism here," he said, adding that he plans to return to Peru when he turns 50.

Zow, a 62-year-old construction worker from Mali who spends his nights at Barcelona's airport, is also weary of the stares he gets.

"I don't like sleeping here. It's awful, everyone looks at you like this," he said, imitating a look of disdain.

Blame game

Around 421 people were sleeping rough at Madrid's airport in March, a survey by a Catholic charity group counted. Most were men, half had been sleeping at the airport for over six months and 38 percent said they had a job.

Nearly all of them would leave the airport during the day.

The issue has exposed deep divisions among the institutions tasked with addressing homelessness.

City and regional governments in Madrid have clashed with Aena, which operates under the control of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist administration.

"Primary social care is the responsibility of the local government," Aena said in a statement, adding the city must fulfil its "legal duty to care for vulnerable populations".

Madrid's conservative Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida fired back, arguing that the central government controls Aena and "what's happening depends on several ministries".

The city insists that most of those sleeping in the airport are foreigners who should fall under Spain's international protection system.

Despite the finger-pointing, both sides have agreed to hire a consultancy to count and profile those sleeping at the airport. The study results are expected by the end of June.

But Meza is skeptical.

"We don't want help. We don't want anything. We just don't want to be bothered," he said.