In the last six weeks, around eight dust storms hit Iraq. NASA’s satellites captured the images of skies turning orange. These dust storms reduce visibility, increase the risk of accidents, sent more than 1000 to hospital, give rise to respiratory problems, and severely disrupted lives.

• The dust storms are driven by northwesterly winds, also known as Shamal. These winds lift the dust from the Tigris-Euphrates basin of Syria and Iraq and transport it to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula.
• Dust storms strike West Asia every summer and winter. However, in recent years, the intensity and frequency of dust storms have increased.
• La Niña is a climate pattern that impacts weather phenomena globally. When there is La Niña, it will result in dry winter. The soil loses moisture and the dry sand will be easily lifted into the air, giving rise to dust storms.