Iraq Sandstorm Shuts Airports, Hospitalizes 3,700 Amid Health Crisis

A massive sandstorm swept across Iraq on April 14, 2025, forcing the closure of Baghdad and Najaf international airports and overwhelming hospitals with 3,700 respiratory cases, the Health Ministry reported.

The storm, blanketing central and southern regions with thick orange dust, reduced visibility to 300 meters, grounding flights and disrupting oil operations, which supply 90% of Iraq’s revenue, per the Energy Ministry. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, as air quality levels hit hazardous thresholds, with PM10 particles exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, ten times WHO limits.

Hospitals in Baghdad, Basra, and Karbala treated patients for asthma and suffocation, with 200 in intensive care, though no deaths were confirmed. “Our wards are stretched beyond capacity,” said Dr. Ali Hussein of Ibn Sina Hospital. The storm, Iraq’s third in 2025, reflects worsening climate trends, with sandstorms up 15% since 2020 due to drought and desertification, per UN data.

Schools and government offices closed, affecting 15 million people, while farmers reported $10 million in crop losses. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani allocated $5 million for relief, but critics argue systemic issues, like 30% deforestation, demand urgent action. Flights resumed Tuesday, but forecasts predict more storms, testing Iraq’s strained infrastructure.