SHORTLIST BASRA, IRAQ (APR. 15, 2025) (ANADOLU-ACCESS ALL) 1. VEHICLES DRIVING ON STREET AS WIND BLOWS DUST 2. SECURITY OFFICERS WEARING FACE MASKS ON ROADSIDE, ONE GETTING OFF POLICE VEHICLE 3. TIGHT SHOT OF SECURITY OFFICERS ON ROADSIDE DIRECTING TRAFFIC (TWO SHOTS) 4. MAN WEARING FACE MASK WALKING WITH HELP OF OTHERS IN HOSPITAL 5. TIGHT SHOT OF MEN LYING ON HOSPITAL BEDS (TWO SHOTS) 6. TOP SHOT OF MAN ON HOSPITAL BED BEING GIVEN OXYGEN 7. MEN BEING EXAMINED BY DOCTORS (TWO SHOTS) 8. WORKER WEARING FACE MASK REFUELING CAR AT GAS STATION 9. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING ON DUST-BLANKETED ROADS 10. WIDE SHOT OF MAN WALKING IN FRONT OF PHARMACY ON ROADSIDE 11. MOTORBIKE PASSING THROUGH VEHICLES PARKED ON DUST-BLANKETED STREET 12. MEN WALKING ON DUST-BLANKETED STREET AS VEHICLE PASSESBASRA, IRAQ - APR. 15: A powerful sandstorm swept through southern Iraq on Tuesday, Apr. 15, severely disrupting daily life and impacting public health, according to local officials and health authorities. The storm struck the southern city of Basra, drastically reducing visibility and hindering road traffic. Authorities reported that many residents experiencing respiratory difficulties were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Health officials said more than 1,000 people across central and southern Iraq were affected by breathing problems. In the provinces of Dhi Qar and Basra alone, at least 530 individuals sought medical assistance due to respiratory issues. Blanketing the southern provinces in a thick orange cloud, the storm reduced visibility to less than one kilometer (0.62 mile). As a precaution, airports in Najaf and Basra were temporarily closed due to poor visibility and unsafe flying conditions. Iraq frequently endures severe sandstorms, driven by desertification, prolonged drought, and declining rainfall. The United Nations ranks Iraq among the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, citing extreme weather events, including sandstorms, rising temperatures, and water shortages.