Latest news with #InternationalDayofCombatingSandandDustStorms
India.com
13-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Shocking UN report reveals 70 lakh people die prematurely every year due to...
(Representational image: New Delhi: According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, sand and dust storms affect about 330 million people in more than 150 countries, and these are having a serious impact on health, economy and environment. What does WMO say? WMO representative Laura Patterson told the United Nations General Assembly that about 2 billion tons of dust is released every year, which is equivalent to 300 Giza pyramids of Egypt. She said that more than 80% of the world's dust comes from the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. It spreads hundreds and thousands of kilometers, crossing continents and oceans. What is United Nations General Assembly, in resolution 77/249? The United Nations General Assembly, in resolution 77/249, proclaimed 12 July as the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, and declared the period from 2025 to 2034 the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. General Assembly President Philemon Yang said that these storms are increasingly becoming a global challenge due to climate change, land degradation and non-sustainable practices. He said that the particles generated by these storms cause 7 million premature deaths every year. They increase respiratory and heart diseases. They reduce crop production by 25%, which increases the problems of hunger and migration. How much damage is caused by sand and dust? Rola A. A. H. Dashti, the head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, said, 'The annual cost of dealing with these storms in the Middle East and North Africa is $ 150 billion, which is about 2.5% of GDP.' She said that storms in the Arab region this spring filled hospitals in Iraq with respiratory patients. Schools and offices in Kuwait and Iran were forced to close. Dashti stressed that it is important to include sand and dust storms on the global and national agenda. She stressed the need for collective will and funding to implement solutions such as land restoration, sustainable agriculture and integrated early warning systems.
MTV Lebanon
12-07-2025
- Climate
- MTV Lebanon
UN: Sand and Dust Storms Affect 330 Million People Due to Climate Change
A new report by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found that sand and dust storms are leading to 'premature deaths' due to climate change, with more than 330 million people in 150 countries affected. On Saturday, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) marked the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms and its designation of 2025 – 2034 as the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. The storms 'are fast becoming one of the most overlooked yet far-reaching global challenges of our time', said Assembly President Philemon Yang. 'They are driven by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices.' The secretary-general of WMO, Celeste Saulo, said on Thursday that sand and dust storms do not just mean 'dirty windows and hazy skies. They harm the health and quality of life of millions of people and cost many millions of dollars through disruption to air and ground transport, on agriculture and on solar energy production.' Airborne particles from these storms contribute to 7 million premature deaths annually, said Yang, adding that they trigger respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and migration. 'About 2 billion tonnes of dust are emitted yearly, equivalent to 300 Great Pyramids of Giza' in Egypt, Laura Paterson, the WMO's UN representative, told the UNGA. More than 80% of the world's dust comes from the deserts in North Africa and the Middle East, added Paterson, but it has a global effect because the particles can travel hundreds and even thousands of kilometres across continents and oceans. Undersecretary-General Rola Dashti, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, told the assembly the storms' economic costs are 'staggering'. In the Middle East and North Africa, it costs $150bn, roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), annually to deal with dust and sand storms, she said. 'This spring alone, the Arab region experienced acute disruption,' Dashti said, citing severe storms in Iraq that overwhelmed hospitals with respiratory cases and storms in Kuwait and Iran that forced school and office closures. Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa has travelled as far as the Caribbean and Florida, she said. For the United States, dust and wind erosion caused $154bn in damage in 2017, a quadrupling of the amount since 1995, according to a study in the scientific journal Nature. The WMO and World Health Organization also warned that the health burden is rising sharply, with 3.8 billion people – nearly half the global population – exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds between 2018 and 2022, up from 2.9 billion people affected between 2003 and 2007.
Shafaq News
12-07-2025
- Science
- Shafaq News
UN: Global sand and dust storms impacting millions
Sand and dust storms are no longer just a regional nuisance but a growing global crisis, affecting more than 150 countries and putting the health and livelihoods of over 330 million people at risk, the United Nations reported. According to the report, each year, roughly 2 billion tons of dust are released into the atmosphere—comparable to the weight of 307 Great Pyramids of Giza—most of it originating from the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. While commonly associated with hazy skies and dirty surfaces, the true toll includes disrupted air travel, damaged crops, respiratory illnesses, and reduced efficiency of solar energy systems. In response, the UN General Assembly has designated July 12 as the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, and declared 2025–2034 the official UN Decade for coordinated action. A high-level event hosted by the UNGA president in New York will mark this year's observance, with global activities planned to raise awareness and mobilize support.
Leaders
12-07-2025
- Science
- Leaders
UN Sand & Dust Storms Meeting: Saudi Arabia's Efforts Gain Recognition
Saudi Arabia has gained global recognition for its international efforts in bolstering early-warning systems for sand and dust storms. The High-level Meeting on Sand and Dust Storms, which took place at the UN headquarters in New York, also praised the Kingdom's role in spearheading regional cooperation. The meeting convened in the context of the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, marked on July 12 each year. International Recognition The high-level meeting hailed the Kingdom's global initiative to boost early-warning systems for sand and dust storms, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). It also highlighted Saudi Arabia's cooperation with regional centers affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to strengthen dust combat, pointing to the Kingdom's $10 million commitment over 5 years to enhance the capabilities of the vulnerable countries. Unwavering Commitment On its part, Saudi Arabia underscored its firm commitment to supporting climate and environmental action, and fostering scientific and technical cooperation to tackle the impacts of sand and dust storms, on the local, regional and international levels. These initiatives come in line with the Kingdom's strategic vision and ongoing efforts to protect the environment and achieve sustainability. On this occasion, the deputy CEO of the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) and Executive Chief of the Sand and Dust Storm Regional Center, Jumaan Al-Qahtani, outlined the Kingdom's efforts to combat dust storms under Saudi Vision 2030. These efforts include the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), the Middle East Green Initiative, and the establishment of specialized centers such as the Regional Center for Sand and Dust Storms, the Climate Change Center, the Cloud Seeding Program, and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development. Saudi Arabia's Efforts Al-Qahtani highlighted the establishment of the Regional Center for Dust and Sand Storms in Jeddah in 2022, which marked a strategic milestone toward improving dust storms' prediction and strengthening early-warning. The Jeddah Center serves as a hub for supporting early-warning systems, data exchange, capacity building, and mitigating the health and economic impacts of storms in coordination with the WMO. Furthermore, Al-Qahtani boasted the Kingdom's scientific and research efforts, including hosting the First International Conference on Dust and Sand Storms in Riyadh in March 2024. They also include hosting regional workshops in collaboration with the WMO and ESCWA (the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia), and cooperating with international centers such as WMO Barcelona Dust Regional Center. In the light of this, he announced Saudi Arabia's readiness to host the second International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms in 2026 to build on the scientific momentum and assess the progress achieved since the Riyadh declaration, in addition to discussing challenges and solutions related to dust and sand storms. Tangible Results Owing to Saudi Arabia's tireless efforts and environmental initiatives, the Kingdom has planted over 142 million trees and reclaimed more than 436,000 hectares of degraded land. It has also managed to protect 18% of its land, under the (30×30) plan endorsed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in addition to launching 7 royal reserves, representing 13.5% of Saudi Arabia's total area. Moreover, Al-Qahtani emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to supporting international efforts and expanding partnerships to develop early-warning systems, protect human and the environment, and build more resilient societies in the face of climate change and dust storms. Dangers of Sand & Dust Storms Under the theme 'Sand and Dust Storms: Working Across Agendas for Resilience and Sustainability,' the high-level meeting convened at the UN headquarters on July 10 to discuss the challenges posed by sand and dust storms on affected countries. It also aimed to promote practical, coordinated actions at both regional and global levels. Moreover, the Secretary-General of the WMO, Celeste Saulo, highlighted the dangers of sand and dust storms, which 'affect more than 150 countries and impact about 330 million people worldwide.' Saulo explained that 'about 2 billion tons of dust are emitted yearly, equivalent in weight to 307 Great Pyramids of Giza,' adding that 'more than 80% of the global dust budget emanates from the North African and Middle Eastern deserts.' However, this dust has a global impact because it can travel hundreds and thousands of kilometers across continents and oceans, profoundly affecting health and quality of life, air and ground transport, agriculture and the environment, and solar energy production. Sand and dust storms are exacerbated by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices. They contribute to 7 million premature deaths every year, causing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, according to Assembly President, Philemon Yang. They also reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and driving migration. Short link : Post Views: 9
12-07-2025
- Climate
Sand and dust storms affect about 330 million people in over 150 countries, UN agency says
UNITED NATIONS -- Sand and dust storms affect about 330 million people in over 150 countries and are taking an increasing toll on health, economies and the environment, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization says. 'About 2 billion tons of dust are emitted yearly, equivalent to 300 Great Pyramids of Giza' in Egypt, the organization's U.N. representative, Laura Paterson, told the General Assembly. More than 80% of the world's dust comes from the deserts in North Africa and the Middle East, she said, but it has a global impact because the particles can travel hundreds and even thousands of kilometers (miles) across continents and oceans. The General Assembly was marking the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms on Saturday and its designation of 2025 to 2034 as the U.N. decade on combating sand and dust storms. Assembly President Philemon Yang said the storms 'are fast becoming one of the most overlooked yet far-reaching global challenges of our time.' 'They are driven by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices,' he said. Yang, in a speech Thursday that was read by an assembly vice president, said airborne particles from sand and dust storms contribute to 7 million premature deaths every year. He said they trigger respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and migration. Undersecretary-General Rola Dashti, head of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, told the assembly the storms' economic costs are "staggering.' In the Middle East and North Africa, the annual cost of dealing with dust and sand storms is $150 billion, roughly 2.5% of GDP, she said. 'This spring alone, the Arab region experienced acute disruption,' Dashti said, citing severe storms in Iraq that overwhelmed hospitals with respiratory cases and storms in Kuwait and Iran that forced schools and offices to close. Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa has reached as far as the Caribbean and Florida, she said, Dashti, who also co-chairs the U.N. Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, said over 20 U.N. and international agencies are working to unite efforts on early warning systems for storms and to deal with other issues, including health and financing. She urged all countries to put sand and dust storms into global and national agendas. 'From land restoration and sustainable agriculture to integrated early warning systems, we have the tools to act," Dashti said. "What we need now is collective determination and financing to bring these solutions to scale.'
