Over 1,000 individuals have reported severe breathing difficulties following a significant sandstorm that spread across central and southern Iraq, prompting urgent medical responses.
Iraq Faces Health Crisis as Sandstorm Hits, Over 1,000 Affected
Iraq Faces Health Crisis as Sandstorm Hits, Over 1,000 Affected
A recent sandstorm in Iraq has left vast numbers of residents struggling with respiratory issues, raising alarms over public health impacts.
In a recent sandstorm event, health authorities in Iraq reported that over 1,000 people have suffered from respiratory problems. The storm particularly affected areas in Muthanna and surrounding provinces, where health officials recorded at least 700 cases of suffocation. Head of health in Muthanna, speaking to AFP, emphasized the need for immediate care as citizens struggled for breath amidst the thick, orange haze that engulfed the region.
Local media have shared alarming footage illustrating the extent of the disaster, with visibility dropping to less than one kilometer and causing widespread flight cancellations and power outages. Pedestrians donned face masks, and paramedics were deployed to assist those in need of urgent care.
In addition to Muthanna’s alarming figures, hospitals in Najaf province reported over 250 cases of respiratory distress, while Diwaniyah province logged 322 patients, including children. Dhi Qar and Basra provinces also faced a significant number of individuals seeking medical treatment for breathing complications, with a reported 530 cases.
The ongoing environmental crisis is not unexpected, as Iraq’s environment ministry warns of increasing "dust days" attributed to climate change effects. Such meteorological events are becoming frequent, undermining public health and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in a country already struggling with hot temperatures and water scarcity.
The devastating sandstorm is not an isolated incident—previous events have caused severe consequences, including a similar storm in 2022 that resulted in one death and thousands requiring medical attention for respiratory ailments. As the situation develops, authorities expect some improvement in conditions, but the long-term outlook suggests a troubling increase in health crises related to dust storms in Iraq.
