How climate change can cause more sandstorms

A satellite image taken of a dust storm engulfing parts of Iraq and nearby countries on May 5. Photo: Nasa Earth Observatory/AFP

Sandstorms have engulfed the Middle East in recent days, in a phenomenon experts warn could proliferate because of climate change, putting human health at grave risk.

At least 4,000 people went to hospital on a recent Monday for respiratory issues in Iraq where eight sandstorms have blanketed the country since mid-April.