Sandstorm in Iraq sends thousands to hospitals with breathing problems

Iraq sandstorm disrupts airports and healthcare system as climate change worsens air quality.

A sandstorm disrupts daily life and reduces traffic visibility in Najaf, Iraq, on April 14, 2025. Photo by Karar Essa/Anadolu

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

A powerful sandstorm in Iraq swept through several provinces this week, forcing airports to shut down and sending more than 3,700 people to hospitals with breathing problems. The health crisis underlines Iraq’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events linked to climate change and environmental degradation.

The storm rolled through central and southern parts of the country, blanketing entire cities in dense clouds of orange dust. Visibility dropped to less than one kilometer in some areas, paralyzing daily life and leaving many residents gasping for air. Health ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr confirmed that Basra was the hardest hit, recording over 1,000 of the total 3,747 hospital admissions caused by the storm.

Airports closed, cities cloaked in dust

The sandstorm forced the temporary closure of Basra and Najaf airports, two of Iraq’s major air travel hubs. Both halted operations as pilots were unable to navigate the thick dust, which obscured runway lights and ground markings. Flights were suspended as visibility deteriorated to dangerous levels.

Photographs from AFP showed eerie scenes in the affected regions, with cities disappearing behind an orange shroud. In Basra, one of the southernmost provinces, residents struggled to breathe as they moved through the storm. Many wore face masks to shield themselves from the dust, while others stayed indoors to avoid exposure.

“The dust was so thick that I couldn’t see the street across from my home,” said Mahmoud Ali, a Basra resident. “It felt like we were trapped inside a cloud of fire-colored smoke.”

Hospitals overwhelmed by respiratory cases

Hospitals across the region were quickly overwhelmed. Emergency rooms filled with patients suffering from asthma attacks, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. According to the health ministry, 3,747 individuals sought treatment for breathing difficulties related to the sandstorm.

Medical staff worked tirelessly to treat those affected, providing oxygen support and administering inhalers. In Basra, the surge in hospital visits led to shortages in medication and protective equipment. Health officials described the situation as a public health emergency, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing lung conditions.

Iraq’s rising number of dust days

The frequency and intensity of sandstorms in Iraq have been on the rise. Once viewed as seasonal occurrences, these dust storms are becoming a more common—and dangerous—part of daily life. Environmental experts attribute the growing number of “dust days” to global warming, land degradation, and desertification.

According to Iraq’s environment ministry, the country is projected to experience around 300 dust days per year by 2050 if current trends continue. Reduced rainfall, shrinking wetlands, and declining vegetation have left vast areas of land vulnerable to wind erosion, creating the perfect conditions for sandstorms.

Iraq already experiences about 122 dust days annually. These storms not only pose severe health risks but also disrupt transport, damage crops, and burden infrastructure.

Echoes of the 2022 disaster

This week’s sandstorm rekindled memories of a deadly event in 2022 when a massive dust storm swept across Iraq, killing one person and sending more than 5,000 people to hospitals. That storm was among the worst in recent memory and served as a wake-up call for the government to adopt more robust environmental policies.

Despite the 2022 crisis, few measures have been implemented since then to reduce Iraq’s vulnerability to such storms. Experts continue to urge the government to invest in reforestation, restore marshlands, and modernize water management practices to combat the root causes of desertification.

Climate change and its growing impact on Iraq

Iraq is considered one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and diminishing water resources have already devastated agriculture and displaced communities. The recurrence of intense sandstorms further exacerbates the crisis, turning environmental challenges into public health disasters.

“Climate change is no longer a future threat; it’s a current reality,” said Dr. Hassan Fadhil, an environmental scientist based in Baghdad. “What we’re seeing in Iraq is a direct result of failing to protect ecosystems and manage natural resources.”

Government response remains limited

In response to the sandstorm, Iraq’s environment ministry issued warnings through local media and urged residents to stay indoors. Schools and government offices in several provinces were temporarily closed. However, critics argue that such short-term measures are insufficient.

There is an urgent need for comprehensive environmental reform. Solutions may include planting green belts to act as windbreaks, revitalizing water bodies that can trap airborne dust, and enforcing sustainable farming practices. Without such efforts, Iraq may continue to face escalating environmental and health crises.

The human toll of dust and inaction

For many Iraqis, the storm is a grim reminder of the daily challenges they face in a changing climate. Parents worry about the impact on their children’s health. Workers are forced to choose between staying home without pay or risking their health outdoors. And the healthcare system, already under strain from years of conflict and underinvestment, is ill-prepared for the growing number of climate-related emergencies.

Fatima Jassim, a nurse in a hospital in Najaf, said, “We’re doing our best, but we’re stretched thin. We can’t keep up with the number of patients during these storms.”

An urgent need for action

While the latest Iraq sandstorm has begun to dissipate, its effects linger in hospitals, in grounded flights, and in the lungs of thousands of people. With environmental conditions deteriorating and climate change accelerating, Iraq must take swift and sustained action to protect its people from future disasters.

The storm serves as a warning—not just for Iraq, but for the region and the world—of what unchecked environmental damage can lead to. Dust may settle after a storm, but the crisis will only deepen if it continues to be ignored.