New Delhi: At least 4,000 people had to be admitted to hospital with breathing problems after second fierce sandstorm of the month engulfed Iraq capital Baghdad and many other cities Monday. The thick cloud of dust led to the closure of airports, schools and other establishments across the country, news agency AFP reported. This is the eighth dust storm Iraq has seen since mid-April. The last one that happened earlier this month had even claimed a life.
Iraq has been battling effects of climate change, with soil degradation, severe droughts, very little rainfall and rising average temperatures.
Apart from Baghdad, the other places that witnessed the sandstorm include the Shiite shrine city of Najaf, and Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdish autonomous region. The storm led to the skies turning orange in these cities, while yellow and orange sand covered roofs of building and cars and even entered homes, the AFP report said.
In seven of Iraq's 18 provinces, government offices were ordered to be shut, the report said, adding that health facilities were open to treat those most vulnerable, including the elderly and people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.
The sandstorm reduced visibility to just 300 metres at Baghdad airport, due to which the authorities had to close airspace and halt flights, state-run news agency INA reported, adding that airports in Najaf and Sulaimaniyah were also closed for the day.
While dust and sandstorms are common in the Middle East, they have become more intense and frequent of late. Health problems caused by the fine dust particles include asthma and cardiovascular ailments. According to the United Nations, Iraq is the world’s fifth-most vulnerable country as far as the climate crisis is concerned. Over the next two decades, an environment ministry official had warned last month, Iraq could face "272 days of dust" a year.