In Iraq, a dust storm enveloped the country on Tuesday, April 12. The second in less than a week. This phenomenon is more and more frequent in the country due to global warming and causes many problems.
With our correspondent in Baghdad, Lucile Wassermann
The wind blows in Iraq and Baghdad wakes up under an orange coat. The streets, the cars, the houses… Everything is covered with a thin layer of sepia color particles because of a dust storm, or sand storm, as some call it.
Can’t see more than twenty meters
In the streets of Baghdad, many passers-by wear disposable masks to protect themselves from dust and it is impossible to see more than 20 meters. ” That’s twice this week. Three days ago I was in Souleymaniyah and I had to return to Baghdad, I drove in these conditions, and with the dust storm, it was really very hard “, says Ahmed, a resident of the capital, exasperated.
These storms are becoming more frequent, according to climatologists, due to the lack of precipitation in winter. Airports had to close for the day and hospitals were overwhelmed. ” In the emergency room, we face many cases of respiratory problems, especially from people with asthma. It still remains under control, they are given medication and the symptoms disappear from a few minutes or after an hour maximum “, says Mohammed, an emergency doctor who works in Baghdad.
A vulnerable country
Iraq is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. According to the World Bank, the country could lose 20% of its water resources by 2050.
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