Let’s pray for Iraq, where 18 provinces have been affected by a severe sandstorm. One person died and more than 5000 were treated for respiratory ailments. The capital city, Baghdad, and the holy city of Najaf were covered by orange clouds of choking dust. Fortunately, those seeking hospital treatment were later discharged due to the medium and low intensity cases. During the last years, the dust storms have risen dramatically in Iraq, caused mostly by soil degradation and intense droughts worsened by climate change.