Airports and public administrations closed, exams suspended in schools and universities: Iraqis found on Monday the familiar orange halo caused by a new sandstorm which forced at least 4,000 people to go to hospitals for respiratory disorders. The last such episode led to a death on May 5 from respiratory ailments which also prompted more than 5,000 people to go to hospitals for treatment.
The Iraqi Ministry of Education has announced the closure of all schools in the country and the postponement of exams until Tuesday. University exams have also been postponed. Since mid-April, Iraq has experienced no less than eight sandstorms in the space of a few weeks. The authorities present Iraq as one of the five countries in the world most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and desertification.
