Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tunis (Agenzia Fides) - "From the beaches where tourists were killed, the Tunisian people want to make it a place of life and not of death" says Fr. Jawad Alamat, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Tunisia to Agenzia Fides. The Country has to face the consequences of the attack on the resort of Sousse on 26 June, which caused forty victims, mostly foreign tourists (see Fides 30/06/2015).
"It was a terrible blow, but Tunisians are multiplying initiatives to say no to violence, and to show that terrorism will not prevail", said Fr. Jawad, who is also the pastor of Sousse. "Next weekend thousands of Tunisians will end the Ramadan fast on the beach of Sousse, the site of the attack. This is to say to those who want to bring Tunisia to its knees, that Tunisians will not give up and that life is stronger than death", said the priest.
Meanwhile, the Government of Tunisia has announced security measures to prevent new attacks. "We have strengthened security measures" confirms Fr. Jawad. "We see many more police on the streets. The authorities are interested in everybody’s safety".
Tourism, a key sector of the Tunisian economy, has been hard hit by the attack, but as Fr. Jawad said, "enormous efforts are being made to save the tourist season, lowering prices to incredible levels. Unfortunately the foreign tourism season seems compromised, therefore one tries to promote domestic tourism and that of Tunisians living abroad". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 09/07/2015)
