Erbil to face more frequent dust storms: Researcher
Fastlink, FIB launch partnership
Rojava initiative aims to create a 'unique' generation
Kurdish Islamic party politician sues Erbil parliament for not convening sessions
Kurdish shepherd proves it is never too late to learn
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Dust storms are set to engulf Erbil more frequently and with greater intensity this year, a researcher warned on Monday, as Iraq faces accelerating desertification after a dry winter season.
'This year, dust storm waves in the Kurdistan Region, especially in Erbil, will be more frequent compared to previous years. This is because Erbil is located on the dust storm path between Iraq and the southwestern Mediterranean Sea,' Rebin Samad, head of the surveying department at Erbil Polytechnic University, told Rudaw.
Samad explained that reduced rainfall this year has given way to nine dust storms in Erbil so far. 'More intense waves are predicted,' he added.
On Monday, health officials told Rudaw that nearly 550 people had been hospitalized across Iraq in a single day as a severe dust storm swept through multiple provinces, causing widespread respiratory problems.
Earlier in the day, Amer al-Jabri, spokesperson for Iraq's meteorology and seismology directorate, said the storm was strongest in Iraq's central and western areas, with a lower impact expected in the north. Wind speeds were reported between 30 and 50 kilometers per hour, reducing visibility to as low as four kilometers.
In Kirkuk alone, the number of hospitalizations doubled on Tuesday to more than 200.
"There are two types of dust storms. One is an intense wave that covers Erbil, like what has been recorded these days. The other type is just dust settling rather than direct exposure to the wave, which causes less damage and has fewer negative effects,' Samad explained.
According to his research findings, the most impacted neighborhoods lie in the south and west of Erbil, particularly those between the Kirkuk-Erbil and Mosul-Erbil roads. Samad recommended that an Erbil green belt initiative be prioritized in the southern part of the city, where the risk and damage are greatest.
Samad explained that Iraq's weather is influenced by patterns in the northwestern Mediterranean, and Erbil acts as a corridor for dust waves moving through Iraq, making central Erbil particularly vulnerable.
He further lamented that 41 percent of Iraq is now desert, and climate change is worsening the situation. A drop in rainfall and vegetation has caused a yearly decline in the number of date palms, further intensifying dust storm conditions.
With desertification increasingly taking its toll on Iraq, the researcher warned that agricultural land and inhabited areas could soon be threatened unless urgent climate measures are undertaken.
Dust storms are a familiar seasonal challenge in Iraq, but their frequency and intensity have worsened due to long-term drought, expanding desertification, and rising temperatures.
In mid-April, over 3,700 people were admitted to hospitals across the country due to breathing difficulties caused by dust storms.
The United Nations has urged immediate action to tackle Iraq's environmental deterioration.
According to the environment ministry, Iraq has recorded an average of 272 dusty days annually over the last two decades. That figure could rise to 300 days per year by 2050 if current trends continue.
Iraq is considered among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with poor water resource management and upstream dam projects in neighboring countries further decreasing the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Nwenar Fatih contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
09-08-2025
- Rudaw Net
Turkey says tightening measures to battle forest fires
Also in Turkey Turkey adopts confidentiality rule for PKK peace commission DEM party pushes reforms, Ocalan's 'right to hope' in first peace commission meeting Turkish parliamentary commission holds first meeting over Ankara-PKK talks Wedding revives Kurdish traditions in east Turkey village A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish authorities are taking preventative measures to counter forest fires during a heatwave and low humidity levels, state media reported on Saturday. Turkey has been battling a heatwave for several weeks that has left at least 14 people dead in forest fires across the country. Authorities have blamed climate change and strong winds for the blazes. 'Authorities are taking action to address this situation, and fire prevention measures have been tightened. Inspections, particularly in forested areas, have been increased to prevent fires, and announcements have been made to raise public awareness,' read a statement from the General Directorate of Forestry, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported. It added that smoking, lighting fires, and camping in forests without permission are prohibited, and forestry authorities are 'monitoring forests 24/7 for potential fires.' Wildfires in Turkey are commonplace in the summertime but have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, compounded by the effects of climate change. 'Climate change is no longer a future threat, but a reality we're currently experiencing,' Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. On Friday, Turkey suspended shipping in the busy Dardanelles Strait as it fought a large fire in the northwestern Canakkale province.
Rudaw Net
01-08-2025
- Rudaw Net
Drought forces closure of 198-year-old Sulaimani mosque
A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A 198-year-old mosque in Sulaimani has closed its doors to collective prayers as drought and a deepening water crisis leave residents without water at homes and places of worship. A spring that used to feed the mosque in the Kaniskan neighbourhood has dried up. 'This spring used to be a water source, full of water, but now unfortunately there is no water left in it,' Hasan Tawfiq, an 86 year old who spent his whole life praying at the mosque, told Rudaw. Keeping the mosque open now depends on finding water. Over the past nine years, caretakers dug the mosque's well eight meters deeper in search of water, but to no avail. Before each of the five daily prayers, Muslims perform wudu, a ritual washing that is both a physical and spiritual act of purification. The practice involves washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, wiping the head, and washing the feet. Beyond cleanliness, wudu symbolizes readiness to stand before God in prayer, and its absence prevents communal prayer in mosques. 'Previously this well had eight meters of water in it, but now only one and a half meters remain, and it takes about a quarter of an hour for the water to accumulate again,' said Idris Hamid, the imam of Kaniskan mosque. Water from the mosque's spring and well once flowed to Azadi Park and Sulaimani's public gardens, but as the sources dried up, the city's green spaces have withered too. "This spring was full of water, but unfortunately this water shortage has killed us,' said Nawaro Sharif, the mosque's caretaker. He used to clean the mosque every two days, but now there is not even enough water to drink. Shops and markets in Kaniskan have been without water for a week, forcing owners to travel long distances to haul in supplies. The city's main sources of water, including the Dukan reservoir, have dwindled under severe drought, pushing Sulaimani into a deepening water crisis. Villagers in Sulaimani province's southern Garmiyan administration are also grappling with an escalating water crisis, as drought and extreme water shortages intensify. In addition to reduced rainfall, a major contributing factor is reduced water flow from neighboring Iran, which is retaining water that would otherwise feed into Dukan Lake. Once a vibrant tourist destination, the lake's levels have dropped dramatically.
Rudaw Net
27-07-2025
- Rudaw Net
Iraq to hit 52 degrees Celsius amid scorching summer
Also in Iraq Iraqi authorities arrest PMF members linked to attack on state institution Iraq sees drop in wheat production amid summer drought MP says Iraq can withdraw from maritime agreement with Kuwait MPs slam Baghdad for banning Kurdish in disputed areas A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's weather agency said that temperatures in the country's south will reach 52 degrees Celsius on Sunday with the country reeling from the effects of climate change. 'A low-pressure heat wave heading toward Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has caused temperatures to rise significantly with clear impacts,' Amer al-Jabri, spokesperson for Iraq's meteorology and seismology directorate, told Rudaw. He said that temperatures in the provinces of Basra, Dhi Qar, and Maysan are expected to hit 52 degrees Celsius on Sunday, and precautionary measures have been taken in several institutions and entities in the area. Oil companies have reduced reduction to decrease risks. 'Temperatures will drop slightly on Tuesday and Wednesday,' Jabri noted. Iraqi authorities frequently instruct citizens to refrain from going outdoors and being exposed to direct sunlight during periods of intense heat. Scorching temperatures are not new in Iraq, particularly in the south where temperatures regularly approach 50 degrees Celsius. A lack of basic services, such as water and electricity, makes it more difficult for people to cope with the heat. Iraq is also facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation, higher temperatures, and waste mismanagement. It ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change, according to the United Nations. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
