A recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, highlights the significant health implications connected to sand and dust storms, revealing that these natural occurrences are responsible for an astonishing 7 million premature deaths each year. Over 330 million individuals across 150 nations are currently affected by these storms, which are exacerbated by climate change, land degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) observed the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms on Saturday and issued a proclamation designating the decade from 2025 to 2034 as the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. Assembly President Philemon Yang stated that sand and dust storms represent one of the most critical yet often overlooked challenges of our time. He emphasized that the threats posed by these storms extend beyond poor air quality, impacting the health and well-being of millions while also inflicting substantial economic costs related to transportation, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors.
According to Celeste Saulo, the WMO Secretary-General, dust storms not only obscure skylines but contribute to various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Laura Paterson, the WMO’s UN representative, noted that every year, approximately 2 billion tonnes of dust—an amount equivalent to 300 Great Pyramids—are emitted globally, primarily originating from the vast deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. This airborne particulate matter travels vast distances, influencing air quality across continents, including regions as distant as the Caribbean and Florida.
The economic repercussions of sand and dust storms are particularly notable in the Middle East and North Africa, where they cost an estimated 0 billion annually, representing approximately 2.5% of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP). Undersecretary-General Rola Dashti, who oversees the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, reported severe disruptions in various Arab states, citing instances in Iraq where hospitals were inundated with respiratory illness cases following a dust storm, as well as similar events in Kuwait and Iran that led to the closure of schools and offices.
The health ramifications of these storms are escalating, with nearly half of the global population—approximately 3.8 billion people—now exposed to dust levels that exceed World Health Organization safety thresholds, a significant increase from the 2.9 billion recorded between 2003 and 2007. The report serves as a critical reminder of the universal nature of environmental challenges and the interconnectedness of health, economy, and climate action in our modern world.
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