The French photographer Augustin Le Gall presents his exhibition “Return the city accessible to all. The rehabilitation of working -class neighborhoods in Tunisia ”with the French Agency for the Development of Tunisia and the French Institute of Tunis. It will take place in Sfax from January 26 to February 28.
This work had already been exhibited in Tunis, from May 21 to June 8, 2014, at the Maison de la culture Ibn Rachiq.
Local neighborhoods
Throughout the month of January 2014, the photographer traveled Tunisia and focused on the popular neighborhoods of six cities, namely Gafsa, Kairouan, Kef, Médenine, Sfax and Grand Tunis. Quarters not at all fitted out or under rehabilitation.
(quote_box_center) “This is one of the issues in Tunisia: how to organize the city. The country has experienced an important rural exodus for 25/30 years but cities have not had the means to deal with this phenomenon. On the edges of cities, we can then find spontaneous, sporadic habitats, which grab on agricultural land. »(/Quote_box_center)
The problem: residents sometimes do not have access to drinking water, electricity and live in streets that are not lit.
(quote_box_center) “They simply ask to live with dignity, that primary needs be implemented, reports Augustin Le Gall. In some districts, taxis do not want to venture simply because there is no road. »(/Quote_box_center)
And the lack of development also with harmful consequences on the environment: “In Kairouan and Medina, there are completely polluted rivers. There are unpleasant odors. »»
Several rehabilitation works in progress
Fortunately, the Tunisian state has set out to the problem in the 1980s by creating the rehabilitation and urban renovation agency (ARRU). Simple arrangements have already paid off. What the photographer could see:
(quote_box_center) “Once the lampposts have been installed in streets the inhabitants feel more safe. The redeveloped districts make you want to have a beautiful house. This has an impact on habitat. »(/Quote_box_center)
Three out of four sanitation projects in the working -class districts, led by the French Agency for the Development of Tunisia and the National Sanitation Office, were completed. And a fifth, including 200 working -class districts in Tunisia, was announced last November by AFD.
As part of the National Urban Requalification Program, currently funded by the State, AFD and the European Union, is planned in the long term “509 km of roads, 10,688 light points, with taking into account energy efficiency, 50 km of sanitation and 27 km of drainage. »»
More than 1000 districts have so far benefited from these programs.
Caroline Malczuk
