..KIRKUK, IRAQ - MAY 1, 2025: A severe dust storm sweeping across several parts of Iraq significantly disrupted daily life in the northern city of Kirkuk, on Thursday (May 1). A wide-reaching dust storm driven by a seasonal khamsin low-pressure system swept across nine Arab countries Wednesday, deepening the crisis in Gaza and prompting alerts across the region. Gaza, already facing a second year of genocide under Israeli bombardment and blockade, saw displaced families suffer new blows as tents were torn apart by wind and thick dust choked overcrowded camps. The storm, reported in Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, led to school closures, suspended exams, and safety warnings in several countries, Anadolu correspondents reported. Khamsin storms — named after the Arabic word for “fifty” — commonly occur about 50 days after the start of spring and are associated with high winds and airborne sand. 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.