Escalating Desertification in Iraq: Intensifying Sandstorms Pose Severe Threat to Local Communities

Desertification in Iraq is intensifying, leading to more frequent and severe sandstorms that threaten local populations, agriculture, and infrastructure. Inhabitants of southern Iraq endure extreme conditions, with sandstorms burying villages, causing health issues, and leading to a scarcity of water. Efforts by the government and local communities to combat the effects of desertification, including planting trees and constructing barriers, are underway but face challenges such as delays and insufficient funding. The situation highlights the urgent need for increased efforts to prevent further land degradation and protect vulnerable communities.

• Temperatures in southern Iraq can reach up to 52°, with violent sandstorms making the air impossible to breathe.
• Local inhabitants face severe conditions, including health problems caused by dust, lack of water, and the encroachment of sand into their homes and schools.
• The village population has dwindled as many choose to leave due to the harsh living conditions, with only about 100 people remaining in one of the villages mentioned.
• Decades of neglect, soil destruction during wars, and increasing temperatures have contributed to the desertification of Iraq’s land.
• In the last 60 years, the number of sandstorms in Iraq has tripled, significantly impacting agriculture, livestock, and transportation.
• Efforts to combat desertification include the construction of barriers and planting of trees that can withstand harsh conditions, such as Thorns of the Levant.
• Despite the Iraqi government’s initiatives, including a plan to plant 5 million trees, challenges such as delays and lack of funds hinder progress.
• Experts warn that by 2030, rising temperatures and decreasing water resources could exacerbate desertification, forcing more people to leave their homes.

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