A severe sandstorm has brought misery to parts of Iraq, with locals struggling to go about their lives amid emergency safety warnings. Dense dust clouds have been whipped up by strong winds in the western Anbar region and are being blown east towards the capital, Baghdad. Sand particles have turned the air a deep, ominous orange, as revealed by striking photographs coming out of the region.
Impact on Cities
The city of Najaf has been completely enveloped by the storm, with visibility in its streets incredibly poor. Dust flying through the skies on winds of up to 60 mph has made conditions outside treacherous. Locals have been urged by the authorities to stay indoors where possible and avoid using the road.
Emergency Warnings
The Iraqi Meteorological Seismology Organization warned that several central and southern provinces are in the path of the storm as it rolls across the country. It issued an emergency statement advising that visibility could suddenly get worse, as has happened in Najaf. The organisation said that winds were expected to decrease in speed in central and southern cities, but that much of the dust would remain suspended in the air.
Frequency and Causes
Iraq is often battered by seasonal sandstorms, particularly in the spring and summer months. They are made more severe by bouts of dry weather and by the expansion of deserts due to declining rainfall. In the Middle East, they have grown more frequent and intense in recent years, a trend that has been associated with overuse of river water, more dams, overgrazing, and deforestation.
Previous Sandstorms
Many Iraqis are scarred by the memory of previous sandstorms, which have sent thousands to hospital with respiratory problems and even killed people. At least one person died and almost 5,000 were hospitalised after a string of sandstorms hit Iraq in May 2022. The cities of Najaf and Baghdad were similarly cloaked in ghostly orange clouds of choking dust. Local Health Ministry spokesperson Seif al-Badr said at the time: 'One death has been recorded in Baghdad [and hospitals] have received no less than 5,000 cases so far.' Those hit hardest are people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, and the elderly who suffer in particular from heart ailments. More than 3,700 people were hospitalised in Iraq during another sandstorm in April last year.
