Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks

Iraq sandstorm sends thousands to hospitals

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 May 2022 18:33
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Local Iraqi media reported that more than 5,000 Iraqis were rushed to hospitals with respiratory ailments as a result of a sandstorm, the seventh to hit the country in the last month.

  • x
  • The Health Ministry reported that most of those affected had chronic diseases or were elderly.
    The Health Ministry reported that most of those affected had chronic diseases or were elderly.

The Iraqi Health Ministry said, on Thursday, that one person died, and over 5,000 people were treated in hospitals for respiratory ailments caused by a sandstorm, the seventh in a month.

Dust storms have become much more common in Iraq in recent years, owing to soil degradation and severe droughts exacerbated by climate change, which has resulted in rising average temperatures and sharply lower rainfall.

Residents in six of Iraq's 18 provinces awoke to a thick cloud of dust blanketing the sky, including Baghdad and the vast western region of Al-Anbar.

As the storm swept across Iraq, it shrouded Baghdad and the holy city of Najaf in ghostly orange clouds of choking dust.

BREAKING 🇮🇶Iraq🇮🇶 : Iraq's DustStorm kills 1 and 5,000 people suffers breathing problems.

♦️One person died in iraq & more than 5,000 were treated in hospitals for respiratory ailments due to a sandstorm - Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/Ao83Jp8Y0X

— Zaid Ahmd  (@realzaidzayn) May 5, 2022

Health Ministry spokesperson Seif al-Badr said, in a statement, that "one death has been recorded in Baghdad" and hospitals "have received no less than 5,000 cases so far."

“Those hit hardest are people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, and the elderly who suffer in particular from heart ailments”, he said.

Related News

Al-Sudani urges Iraqis to participate in elections to reshape country

Exclusive: Iraqi PUK leader Bakhtiyar talks elections, Kurdish issues

Badr went on to say that the majority of the patients had been discharged and that the majority of the cases were of medium or low intensity.

Dust and sandstorms have always occurred in the Middle East, but they have become more frequent and intense in recent years, a trend that has been linked to increased dam construction, overgrazing, and deforestation.

Fine dust particles can cause health ailments such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, as well as spread bacteria and viruses, pesticides, and other toxins.

According to the official INA news agency, authorities in Al-Anbar and Kirkuk provinces, north of the capital, urged people "not to leave their homes."

Storms are expected to become more intense as climate change worsens, because higher temperatures and more irregular rainfalls dry out land faster, hastening desertification.

Storms also cause economic damage by reducing visibility, sometimes to near zero, closing airports and highways, and causing damage to buildings, vegetation, and solar panels.

According to Anas Qais, a health official cited by INA, hospitals in Al-Anbar province had received over 700 patients with breathing difficulties.

The central province of Salaheddin reported more than 300 cases, while Diwaniya and Najaf, south of Baghdad, each reported about 100 cases, the news agency reported.

It is worth mentioning that Iraq, despite its mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is classified as one of the world's five countries most vulnerable to climate change and desertification.

  • Iraq
  • sand storm
  • Najaf
  • Iraqi health ministry

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS