Iraq is considered one of the most affected countries in the Middle East by climate change, which has negatively impacted the country in various ways. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in temperatures, which has worsened issues such as drought, desertification, and the near-daily occurrence of dust storms. These storms, in turn, have had a substantial impact on public health and environmental pollution.
The problems of desertification, drought, and dust storms have become chronic issues in Iraq. Around three-quarters of Iraq’s land — approximately 75% — has turned into desert due to the effects of climate change, which include declining rainfall, extreme heat, prolonged dry and hot seasons, and shortened durations of the other seasons. This seasonal imbalance has resulted in a host of serious problems, especially in the agricultural sector. One major consequence is what is now referred to as "climate migration," or the movement of rural populations to urban areas in search of a livelihood. This migration has been driven by the deterioration of the agricultural sector — both crop and livestock production — due to drought and water scarcity. Epidemics and diseases such as hemorrhagic fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and avian flu, combined with the drying of the marshes, have caused the death of hundreds of animals.
The issue of desertification and drought has intensified the frequency and severity of dust storms, which have affected many sectors of Iraq’s economy, including the health sector. It is expected that this summer will be the harshest yet, in terms of both high temperatures and dust storms. Last year, average temperatures reached around 28°C, with some summer days hitting 51°C. Forecasts indicate that this summer will be even hotter and more intense. The fact that Iraq began experiencing dust storms early in 2025 is a clear sign: from April until now, nearly ten storms have occurred. The most severe among them turned day into night, with visibility reduced to just 10 meters. Hundreds of people suffered from suffocation, hospitals were overwhelmed, and dozens of traffic accidents occurred due to poor visibility.
The worsening of desertification and drought also has human-made causes, including the unfair water policies of neighboring countries, which have manipulated Iraq’s share of water — particularly in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This has deepened the crisis in the agricultural sector, turning hundreds of agricultural acres into desert lands and sources of dust storms.
By Dr. Sarhan Al-Khafaji