The Middle East is experiencing unprecedented heatwaves, with temperatures in Iraq and Iran soaring to nearly 50°C (122°F) and causing a wave of power outages across the region as people prepare for the most important part of the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq.
As well as causing immediate discomfort and danger, this extreme weather is also raising worrying questions about the region's future habitability in the face of accelerating climate change as both countries struggle to cope with the extreme heat.
In Tabas, Iran, temperatures reached a staggering 49.9 °C (121.8 °F), while in Nasiriyah, Iraq, it was recorded at 48.3 °C (118.9 °F). These were not isolated events, with several places in the region reaching temperatures well above 45 °C (113 °F). “These temperatures are not just uncomfortable, they are dangerous. The effects of climate change are being seen in real time and are progressing faster than many models predicted,” the University of Tehran report warned.
The impact of this heatwave is widespread. In Iran's Sistan province, all government offices and banks have been forced to close. Isfahan is bracing for high temperatures to continue until at least the middle of next week. To make matters even more dire, sandstorms and strong winds have exacerbated the situation in the north and east. A surge in air conditioning use and power outages in several areas have left local authorities struggling to meet the increased demand for electricity.
Mohammed, 32, from Basra, Iraq, describes the situation: “It's unbearable. I can't work, I can't sleep. Even in the Iraqi summer, this is not normal.” His experience is common to millions across the region, who are finding daily life increasingly difficult in the face of these extreme temperatures.
Despite dangerous heat, millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims are heading to Karbala, Iraq, for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage. The intersection of climate change and religious traditions presents unique challenges. Iraqi public health officials have warned that this year's cross-border pilgrimage could be deadly due to high temperatures that are comparable to the death toll from a heatwave during the annual Hajj in Mecca earlier this year. More than 1,300 people in Mecca reportedly died from heatstroke.
The Arbaeen festival is one of the world's largest religious gatherings, also known as the largest gathering of men, women and children on the planet. It takes place 40 days after Ashura, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Imam of Shiite Islam. Seen as a more accessible and less expensive way to demonstrate piety than the annual Hajj to Saudi Arabia, where countries have strict capacity limits, the Arbaeen festival has become increasingly popular among Shiite Iranians, Afghans and Pakistanis who visit holy sites in neighboring Iraq. They gather at the holy city of Karbala, 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad.
In 2018, it was reported that around 18 million visas were issued to enter Iran from Iraq, with an average of more than 3 million people entering on foot from neighbouring countries.
Local communities along the route have stepped up to help, with makeshift water and ice stations lining the roads. Some resourceful locals have even used bulldozer shovels and other heavy machinery as makeshift fruit trays for pilgrims. Volunteers from Iran and Iraq have set up air conditioning and medical tents, demonstrating human resilience in the face of extreme conditions.
The head of the Emergency and Disaster Management Department at Abadan University of Medical Sciences issued necessary recommendations to pilgrims and said, “Heat stroke will be the biggest concern during Arbaeen this year due to the hot weather, but so far no problems have occurred and it is being properly managed.”
“Given the extreme heat these days, the first problem pilgrims face is heatstroke,” Afshin Daryanavard said in an interview with an IMNA reporter in Khuzestan province.
“However, there have been no dangerous heatstroke issues to date and all heatstroke cases have been managed without serious complications,” he added. “We continue to urge people to travel early in the morning or after dark to avoid issues.”
“We urge pilgrims to ensure that they use a high SPF sunscreen if they must travel during the day, as UV rays in the region are higher than normal at this time of day.”
“People are also advised to drink fluids frequently, avoid very sugary drinks and wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from felt fabric,” he added.
Climate models suggest that such heat waves are likely to become more frequent and intense in the coming decades: by 2050, average summer temperatures are projected to regularly exceed 50°C in parts of the Middle East, making large areas of the region effectively uninhabitable without significant adaptation measures.
