Hit hard by dust storm: 50+ respiratory cases reported
Shafaq News/ A dust storm swept across Kirkuk province and its surrounding districts, leaving around 50 people suffering from respiratory distress, Iraqi health officials reported on Tuesday.
In a statement to Shafaq News, Saman Yaba, spokesperson for the Kirkuk Health Directorate, confirmed that most cases were classified as mild to moderate. Patients also received first aid in emergency units at hospitals across the city, with medical teams remaining on alert for a possible rise in cases.
The most affected groups, he added, included the elderly and individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.
Dust storms have covered large parts of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, since early Tuesday. Visibility dropped to less than one kilometre in several western areas due to dense airborne particles.
Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, wear protective masks, and avoid direct exposure to the dust.
By evening, the Iraqi General Authority of Meteorology and Seismology reported improved visibility across central and western provinces. However, satellite imagery showed the dust mass continuing eastward and southeastward, reaching areas such as Basra.
Forecasts for Wednesday indicate a gradual easing of conditions. Heavier dust concentrations are expected in western and southwestern parts of the country, while other regions may experience lighter effects. Rain remains in the forecast overnight and into Wednesday across western al-Anbar, northern Nineveh, Duhok, northern Erbil, and parts of al-Sulaymaniyah.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq enforces Eid food safety amid soaring heat
Shafaq News/ Authorities in al-Sulaymaniyah and Diyala provinces intensified food safety measures during Eid al-Adha, officials reported on Monday. The measures come as Eid al-Adha typically sees a rise in livestock slaughter, increasing the risk of food contamination, compounded by a severe heatwave in the country, with temperatures reaching up to 49°C in several regions, in addition to efforts to contain Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a tick-borne virus associated with informal butchering and direct animal contact. In al-Sulaymaniyah, the provincial slaughterhouse received 735 animals over the first three days of the Eid holiday. Shalaw Aref, operations manager, confirmed that veterinary teams inspected all meat and disposed of nearly half a ton deemed unfit for consumption using approved sanitary protocols. 'We boosted technical and veterinary staff to ensure compliance with both health regulations and religious guidelines,' Aref told Shafaq News. Meanwhile, in Diyala, the Health Directorate closed 10 restaurants following surprise inspections. Fares al-Azzawi, the directorate's spokesperson, stated that teams documented severe hygiene breaches, including "unclean kitchens and improper food handling."
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
Drought's devastation: Iraq's rice belt withers
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Najaf and al-Muthanna provinces are bracing for a major agricultural crisis following the government's decision to cancel this year's rice (al-shilb) cultivation due to acute water shortages. Fields at a Standstill Al-shilb rice, one of Iraq's most water-intensive crops, is crucial to the livelihood of thousands of families in central and southern regions. However, with upstream flows from Turkiye significantly reduced and the Euphrates River's volume dropping by 60% over the past two decades due to upstream restrictions and climate change, this year's planting season has been canceled. Ahmed Sawadi, advisor to the head of Najaf's Provincial Council for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, confirmed to Shafaq News that the Ministry of Water Resources has formally prohibited rice farming. 'This is a disaster,' he warned. 'Most farmers in Najaf, al-Diwaniyah, and al-Muthanna rely entirely on agriculture.' The ban, he cautioned, will plunge already vulnerable rural families deeper into poverty, further limiting their access to essential services such as healthcare, electricity, and education. Collapsing Water Lifelines Najaf is already experiencing the water fallout. Shaker al-Atwi, director of the province's Water Resources Department, told our agency that no summer irrigation quota has been allocated. 'The remaining reserves are prioritized for drinking water—but even that is under threat.' He also noted the drying of the Ibn Najm marsh, which depends entirely on saline drainage, adding that high temperatures have accelerated its evaporation, killing large numbers of fish and worsening the ecological strain. Al-Muthanna, located at the tail end of the Euphrates, faces even harsher conditions. Deputy Governor Youssef Sawadi described the situation as 'critical,' accusing upstream provinces of exceeding their allocations and depriving his region of its share. He called on the Iraqi government to enforce fair distribution and reinstate the suspended summer cropping plan, arguing, 'Rice is vital to the livelihoods of local communities.' Sawadi also highlighted rising river pollution as a compounding threat, warning that contamination is eroding the viability of remaining farmland. Gaps in Strategy Officials argue that better planning and more proactive diplomacy could have mitigated the crisis. Ahmed Sawadi pointed out that Iraq's constitution recognizes water scarcity as a 'natural disaster,' obligating the state to compensate affected farmers. He also advocated for modern irrigation methods—especially the seedling system, which can dramatically reduce water use. Despite its proven effectiveness, it remains underutilized in drought-hit areas. On the international front, Sawadi called on Baghdad to leverage its $20–22 billion annual trade relationship with Turkiye to negotiate a more equitable water-sharing agreement. Meanwhile, the deputy governor stressed the need for urgent coordination among ministries to combat water pollution and preserve what remains of Iraq's agricultural and ecological systems.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Eid strikes in Gaza: Israel kills and injures dozens as health system collapses
Shafaq News/ On the third day of Eid al-Adha, Israel escalated its military campaign across Gaza, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians—including near aid distribution centers—amid mounting warnings of a looming collapse in the Strip's medical system. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health's latest update, the overall death toll has reached 54,772, with 125,834 injuries since October 7, 2023. Over the past 48 hours, hospitals received 10 fatalities and more than 110 injured from areas near humanitarian aid zones. The cumulative toll from strikes targeting aid sites has surpassed 110 dead and more than 1,000 wounded. Among Sunday's attacks, Arab media indicated that four Palestinians were killed and more than 70 injured in a strike near a US-affiliated aid center west of Rafah. A drone attack on displaced families' tents in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, killed five, including two children. Additional casualties were reported after airstrikes hit the Maan area east of Khan Younis and Jabalia town in the north. Artillery shelling struck the Al-Atatra area in Beit Lahiya, wounding a child and an elderly man. Two Palestinians were also injured in Abasan, east of Khan Younis, following a drone attack. Israeli helicopter gunships reportedly opened fire on homes in central Gaza, while ground forces demolished residential buildings east of Jabalia camp. Airstrikes targeted the northeast al-Tuffah neighborhood, though casualty figures remain unknown. Amid the bombardment, Gaza's health authorities issued stark warnings. 'We are approaching mass death,' said the general director of the Health Ministry in an interview with al-Jazeera, accusing Israel of systematically destroying Gaza's healthcare system to facilitate forced displacement and settlement expansion. Gaza's hospitals are running out of fuel, with officials confirming they may shut down within 48 hours. 'Hospitals are operating on strict electricity rationing. The world must act immediately to save Gaza,' the head of field hospitals told al-Jazeera. 'Malnutrition is now widespread, and the population has entered a critical stage.' The situation is particularly dire in Khan Younis, where 650,000 residents rely solely on the Nasser Medical Complex. The director of Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital also warned that kidney dialysis units are no longer functioning due to repeated Israeli attacks. Separately, Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued an urgent warning regarding Israeli soldier Matan Zangauker, held by the group. He claimed Israeli forces are surrounding the location and cautioned that "the enemy will not retrieve the captive alive; if he is killed during the raid, the Israeli army will be responsible."
