Around a thousand people protested in Skopje against air pollution in the capital of northern Macedonia, which often ranks among the most polluted cities in Europe.

It was the second such demonstration in less than a month in Skopje, with the previous march involving a slightly smaller crowd of several hundred.

Participants in Saturday's march in central Skopje, called "Come out for clean air", demanded that the authorities take immediate action on the issue.

"Our air is poison, our government is deaf" and "The future is not visible from the smog" read some of the placards carried by the protesters.  

The march was organized by several environmental groups and civic initiatives.

Urgent measures demanded by the protesters include increased inspections for industrial sites, environmentally friendly heating of government facilities, encouraging the use of public transport and bicycles, and better waste management.

According to the Institute of Public Health, nearly 4,000 people in northern Macedonia die each year due to exposure to PM2.5, the smallest particles that can be inhaled and the most dangerous to human health. 

According to a 2019 UN study, air pollution is responsible for 20% of premature deaths in 19 Balkan cities.

People living in the region lose up to 1.3 years of their lives on average due to air pollution, the study shows. | BGNES