Visiting THE INTERIOR: A Snapshot of Thala Official census records from 2004 state that the town of Thala is home to approximately 14,000 people.5 The actual population is estimated somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000; a local official for social affairs interviewed said that this discrepancy is likely the result of statistics that were manipulated to substantiate the region’s greatly decreased budget allocations. Located in Kasserine Province, just an hour east of the Algerian border, Thala’s physical geography is striking: a rolling landscape of rocky terrain, bright sun, and
olive trees, dotted with the occasional cactus fruit plant. The roads are sparse, particularly in the rural regions just outside of town. At 3,337 feet above sea level, it is the highest and coldest town in the country. Even more striking than the landscape is the economic deprivation. To the visitor, it is immediately palpable. Years of u n d e r i nvest m e n t a n d a l a c k of representation in government during the Ben Ali regime has left grave deficiencies in social services, infrastructure, water, education, and employment.
THALA IN BRIEF
Section 2: Developing an Inclusive Tunisia | 25