Another sandstorm darkened the sky of Iraq and made it hard He breathes, but Milad Mitti, a motorcycle delivery racer in Baghdad, does not have the luxury of missing a day work.
Like most people in Hot desert country now, 30-year-Old battles on in frustration, wearing Gray goggles and neck warmers over Mouth and nose to “breathe”.
Iraq is still recovering from decades of war now facing new environment challenges on Unprecedented scale: since mid-April it has withstood over dozens of dust storms that it often covers. in Weird orange glow.
Thousands have been hospitalized so far, and on Sunday, as many have happened times in Recent weeks, the airports have been again forced to delay flights for hours due to poor vision.
Most Iraqis are not bothered by anyone with face Masks when the COVID-19 pandemic in full Swing, but they do now.
“Maybe this is it first year “Iraq has seen many sandstorms,” Mitti said. in a busy Field in Center of The sprawling capital that used to bake in 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.
“It’s very hard to see,” he said. “It’s stuffy. It’s hot. You have to drink juice and fluids to protect yourself.”
A married man said he was dependent on A job that pays him about $600 a month. “I own a family,” he said, “I have responsibilities.”
Layers of soil
On the deserted balcony of coffee in Capital black Faux leather chairs were once upon a time more Covered with Movie of soil.
waiter, with Brown apron wrapped around his waist, wiping them with A damp cloth, then watered down The floor with Water.
In May, sandstorms sent out at least 10,000 people to hospitals with respiratory problemsclaiming at least one life.
Many of the patients were elderly or had asthma or other respiratory or heart conditions, and most were from risk groups.
After a Sunday dust storm, more from 500 people They were taken to hospitals across the country for Respiratory problems, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Saif Al-Badr, said on Monday.
In his hospital in Baghdad, doctor Saif Ali Abdul Hamza saw four patients on Sunday, like this time sandstorm in DC continued just hours, not days.
“The more Severe storms happen – more Your stormy days, as it were in last weeks – more cases of “There will be suffocation,” said the head of Al-Kindi Hospital.
“the majority of Patients have chronic diseases such as asthma or allergic bronchitis, and the majority of them are elderly.”
you are suffocating
Oil-rich Iraq is ranked one of the five countries Most vulnerable to influences of Climate change and desertification, a key A worker driving sandstorms.
Over the next Two decades, 272 dusty days can be expected each yearThis is expected to cross the 300-day mark by midcentury, . he said environment Ministry official.
to me combat This phenomenon, authorities say they are considering planting “green belts” around cities.
but the country of 41 million in spite of the mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers, also Suffers from a lack of water and declining Rainfall.
“Before, there was a green color belt around Baghdad. “If we re-implant it, it will be very beneficial,” said 35-year-old electrician Razak Jassem.
leather out In the mismanagement of the state, denounced government “Failures” and “Billions Spent on Nonsense.”
“Every time there’s a storm overyou have to wash down Every house said “It doesn’t matter how Too much insulation, gets dusty in. “
The worst thing is having to work During sandstorms, said during a work rest time in a shop Where he was installing the lighting.
“Put on mask get it in The way. You are suffocating want To take it off he said “Take it off And there’s dust.”
However, Jassim is also married father of Three will just She must continue to manage her affairs.
“We’ll stop working when we die,” he said, “As long as we’re alive we have to do work. “
