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belgrade, like many other cities in the Balkans, is plunged into thick fog due to air pollution on January 15, 2020. REUTERS / Marko Djurica

The Balkans are experiencing an unprecedented episode of very heavy air pollution. For several days Sarajevo, Belgrade, Pristina, Skopje, in particular, have been suffocating under an unprecedented layer of fine particles, which place them at the head of the most polluted cities in the world. The government was ordered to react and a demonstration was held Friday evening in Belgrade.

With our correspondent in Belgrade , Laurent Rouy

All week long Belgrade was drowned in fine particles. A dark sky, an acrid air ... Unheard of in Belgrade. Suddenly, impossible to find respiratory masks. They finally arrived in pharmacies, drop by drop, as Sladjana explains. “ The masks were delivered during the day and this evening, almost everything is sold. For our pharmacy, we received 15 masks. "

The streets are less crowded. The authorities advise to limit travel. Ivan, a young father, no longer goes to the park. " Lately, the air has been stinking! It made us aware of the level of pollution. Our eyes were burning. We couldn't breathe. "

This is due to the absence of wind, which no longer disperses the smoke from coal-fired heaters, nor that from polluting industries. Exasperated, hundreds of Belgradois demonstrated Friday evening. They accuse the government of failing to implement the environmental measures enshrined in law.

In the crowd, a small group of French school green students, including 12-year-old Yasmine. " It makes me cough. I often get a headache when I go to school, because I go to school on foot. I can't protect myself if I don't have a mask. I still wish I could go outside without a mask. "

Belgrade is not the only city affected. Without wind, the capitals of all the Balkans suffocate in fine particles.