UN's Kobler on Sand- and Dust-Storms

One of the main problems is that there is not enough information available about dust-storms. But we all know that dust-storms are expensive.

In North Africa, several billion USD in GDP are lost every year due to dust-storms.

We know that dust-storms are more frequent in the region spanning from Iran to Jordan, to Syria and Iraq and from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to Turkey. The loss in GDP also amounts to billions.

Let us consider some aspects:

• Dust-storms reduce visibility: airports, border crossing points and ports remain closes. Supply chains are interrupted, goods worth millions are lost. Precious time is wasted;

• Labour productivity and household incomes drop sharply: Millions of people can’t reach work, factories and offices are closed;

• Dust-storms generate clouds and increase surface heat and this further aggravates drought. The government of Iraq estimates that 39% of Iraq is affected by desertification- and that an additional 54% are under threat;

• Dust-storms damage crops and remove the fertile top soil, which reduces agricultural productivity. Much of Iraq’s fertile lands have been literally blown away;

• Dust-storms increase desertification, drought and reduce water supplies (drinking water, irrigation) and significantly increase soil salinity. There are projections that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers could be depleted by 2040;

• Dust-storms put a significant strain on the public health sector. Hospitals are overwhelmed in dealing with acute and chronic respiratory conditions caused by dust.