SOHR: Hundreds with shortness of breath – dead in violent sandstorms in Iraq and Syria

Severe sandstorms on Monday once again covered the Iraqi capital Baghdad in an orange haze, killing several in neighboring Syria, activists said. Seven people were killed, including two children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday. Strong winds uprooted trees and caused power outages in Dair as-Saur province, it said.

In Iraq, the storms made breathing difficult for hundreds of people. The Iraqi Ministry of Health said 2,000 patients had been treated in hospitals. Ambulances are being deployed across the country to help people at risk of suffocation, state news agency INA reports. It is not known how many people are actually affected.

Flights are partially suspended
Social media showed photos from Iraq, where people, cars and houses were covered in a thick orange-red haze. Agency INA showed rescue workers giving oxygen to people on the street. The view in Baghdad was sometimes very limited. Flights have been temporarily suspended at the airport in the southern city of Najaf. The government called on people to stay at home as much as possible and to wear protective clothing and glasses outside.

Dust particles deteriorate air quality
Sandstorms are not uncommon in Iraq. Particularly in summer, strong northwesterly winds blow over the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the desert area. At the same time, the country is increasingly struggling with drought, last year experiencing one of the worst droughts in decades. In addition to climate change, a misguided water policy is to blame. The dust particles significantly deteriorate the air quality.

In similar severe sandstorms, hospitals in Iraq have registered more than 5,000 patients with breathing difficulties in recent weeks and at least one person has died. Especially asthmatics and the elderly are affected.

Meteorologists expect more storms
The storms should subside by Monday evening. Meteorologists expect more sandstorms in the coming months. The expert from a risk analysis company spoke on Twitter Monday about “rapidly increasing environmental problems” in Iraq. “These sandstorms are a warning far beyond the borders.”