More than 1,800 people went to the hospital after Iraq was hit by a powerful sandstorm. Most patients have breathing problems. Because everything is floating in the air. Authorities have decided to suspend operations of the two international airports due to limited visibility.
Authorities temporarily closed international airports in the Annajaf and Basra provinces, located in the south of the country. Orange Dust Cloud has limited visibility to less than a kilometer.
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Local health officials in Mazen Al Egiri said a hospital in Mutanna province, southern Iraq, has hired about 700 patients with stew symptoms.
Over 250 people were taken to hospitals in Zajaf and at least 322 patients, including children, were sent to hospitals in Dywaniya.
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Another 530 people reported breathing problems in the states of DHI QAR and BASRA.
According to AFP, pedestrians and officers were wearing masks on their faces to protect them from dust. Paramedics also appeared on the streets to help people with difficulty breathing.
Iraq. This country is most exposed to climate change
In 2022, a sandstorm caused one death, requiring more than 5,000 people to be hospitalized.
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The country’s Environment Ministry warns that Iraq could be exposed to an average of 272 days of sandstorms per year over the next 20 years. In 2050, such days could exceed 300 per year. According to the United Nations, Iraq is one of the five countries most affected by several effects of climate change.
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