Iraq at a standstill during latest sandstorm

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BAGHDAD - Another sandstorm descended Monday on Iraq, forcing the closure of airports, schools, universities and public administrations across the country, officials said.

It is the eighth duststorm since mid-April to hit Iraq, which has been battered by soil degradation, intense droughts and low rainfall linked to climate change.

On Monday, a thick cloud of dust enveloped the capital Baghdad in an orange glow and blanketed many other cities including the Shiite shrine city of Najaf to the south, and Sulaimaniyah, in the northern Kurdish autonomous region, AFP correspondents said.It drastically reduced visibility to just 300 metres at Baghdad airport, prompting authorities to close airspace and halt flights, state-run INA news agency reported.

Schools nationwide were also shuttered and end of year exams postponed to Tuesday. Universities also delayed exams.The Middle East has always been battered by dust and sandstorms but they have become more frequent and intense in recent years.Iraq is rich in oil and is known in Arabic as the land of the two rivers - in reference to the legendary Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

 

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