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Dust fills the air in Baghdad. AFP
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A motorist drives a scooter along a bridge in the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
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A man crosses the River Euphrates in Nasiriyah, where the dust storm had reduced visibility severely. AFP
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Heavy dust in the air in Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP
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A man wears a mask as he rests in a traffic policeman's booth during the storm in Baghdad. Reuters
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A patient suffering from breathing problems arrives for care at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. AFP
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Baghdad's streets were quieter than usual as the dust storm raged. AP
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A man wearing a protective mask pushes a cart during the dust storm in Baghdad. AP
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This man found it hard to see from one side of the bridge to the other as he crossed over the Euphrates. AFP
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Dust or sand storms are not unusual in the region but many have hit Baghdad and its surrounding areas in the past few weeks. Reuters
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Cars drive by a mosque in Baghdad, barely visible due to the storm. Reuters
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People cross a bridge during a sandstorm in Baghdad. Reuters
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The storms tend to turn the sky an orange colour. AFP
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Dust fills the air in Baghdad. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XLA4DPROEHELRMPXFG474RLT44.jpg?smart=true&auth=affe3ebf3d3e50c6847df609d8bb85c9a741a7e7aba51d857797644b5523e25a&width=400&height=225)
A motorist drives a scooter along a bridge in the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq, during a heavy dust storm. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BNTQEQSBSEYVDMXFFH3HGHKWYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3be616ab0524e1dd2ea970fd72c7f69bb16add452f6af5225e5fa8172484f245&width=400&height=225)
A man crosses the River Euphrates in Nasiriyah, where the dust storm had reduced visibility severely. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YSSLIQFT2VFGK2YLWBCVNP2XYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a0067b265274595d4567d365e65f037c996a59f0a3d7e17b181f96377207a02&width=400&height=225)
Heavy dust in the air in Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QDRTJIBEYVVAB2XVGHNEAG4S54.jpg?smart=true&auth=4172a73b15d51c74ea5abd5e8a6244fefbcbaf6dbfbc5db3c8a2e61059ea1122&width=400&height=225)
A man wears a mask as he rests in a traffic policeman's booth during the storm in Baghdad. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DBONPF3HMUXFH5CUXRYZEQEKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b095f58d8278138f3b75158d5c0444357c7719efe2c46c1433854acae55ecf44&width=400&height=225)
A patient suffering from breathing problems arrives for care at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XVQQZKZ2IMZ3LXVX4A3TD64KNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=365fad7669f113db555382e95e18555e95c7cb4ecaab2bd67417f611607d58b0&width=400&height=225)
Baghdad's streets were quieter than usual as the dust storm raged. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHUZPQAJTRFACDW4VERWT7IM44.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c44310b7df7a55c81d118ca422b8eef89667d3d0283c20237bf1906b1f86db&width=400&height=225)
A man wearing a protective mask pushes a cart during the dust storm in Baghdad. AP
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This man found it hard to see from one side of the bridge to the other as he crossed over the Euphrates. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/77KNPMCEXOIMD3KICY5JTDXH5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a479ad87aef46c3d3f8732fb0f18b517d186957e3f244dee9a6ed7bc782fe518&width=400&height=225)
Dust or sand storms are not unusual in the region but many have hit Baghdad and its surrounding areas in the past few weeks. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X6HEPGQQN6WPJ6JAOL6PDDLGJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4295c026b27f5cc628088827940ef90c033972e50d2fdfb3e732f923598c53b8&width=400&height=225)
Cars drive by a mosque in Baghdad, barely visible due to the storm. Reuters
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People cross a bridge during a sandstorm in Baghdad. Reuters
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The storms tend to turn the sky an orange colour. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JCW45J3URC7U2K6UUHVZTUQK4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=25d3e1f9f66eba63e88df2b0e4f829c15dafd791e5b1e51f2b82322178515b43&width=400&height=225)
Dust fills the air in Baghdad. AFP
Climate change exacerbating severe dust storms in Iraq, experts say
Government officials urged to be proactive in devising strategies to prevent further escalation
![Mina Aldroubi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F48481d72-67cc-4a04-b275-155199d827d0.png?smart=true&auth=96cfe1b4f5fdcd35f4d973dfd9dd3dc13e3b30b54a8e526b78eab5e8deef7736&width=70&height=70)
Mina Aldroubi
20 May, 2022
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