SULAIMANI (ESTA) — At least 4,000 people were hospitalized due to breathing problems as another sandstorm descended on Monday on climate-stressed Iraq, the country’s health ministry said.
It is the eighth dust storm since mid-April to hit Iraq, which has been battered by soil degradation, intense droughts and low rainfall linked to climate change.
The last one earlier this month led to the death of one person, while more than 5,000 others had to be hospitalised for respiratory problems.
On Monday, a thick cloud of dust enveloped the capital Baghdad in an orange glow and blanketed many other cities including Najaf to the south, and Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region.
Yellow and orange sand covered building roofs, cars and even crept into homes.
Authorities in seven of Iraq’s 18 provinces, including Baghdad, ordered government offices to shut.
But health facilities remained open to assist those most at risk, including the elderly and people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases and heart ailments.
At least 4,000 people were admitted to hospital needing treatment for respiratory difficulties, health ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr said, adding that all cases “received the necessary medical care”.
Earlier, Esta Media Network reporter said a three-year-old child died in a village in Kirkuk due to respiratory problems.
As many as 267 people were admitted to hospitals in Kirkuk, Sulaimani, Kalar, Kifri, Khanaqin, Ranya, Qaladize, Hajiawa and Chwarqurna, according to Esta’s reporters.
The sandstorm drastically reduced visibility to just 300 meters (yards) at Baghdad airport, prompting authorities to close airspace and halt flights.
Director of Sulaimani airport Tahir Abdulla told Esta Media Network that visibility at the airport was 200 meters and that led to authorities to suspend flights at the airport.
Najaf airport was also closed for the day.
Schools nationwide were also shuttered and end of year exams postponed to Tuesday, according to AFP. Universities also delayed exams.
The latest sandstorm was expected to gradually dissipate by Monday evening, weather services said.
The Middle East has always been battered by dust and sandstorms, but they have become more frequent and intense in recent years.
The trend has been associated with overuse of river water, more dams, overgrazing and deforestation.
Iraq is rich in oil and is known in Arabic as the land of the two rivers — in reference to the legendary Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
In April, an environment ministry official warned that Iraq could face “272 days of dust” a year over the next two decades.
(Esta Media Network/AFP)
