More than 200 people have been hospitalized in Kirkuk due to respiratory issues caused by a severe dust storm, a local health official reported on Tuesday.

Saman Yaba, spokesperson for the Kirkuk Health Directorate, told Rudaw that 207 patients suffering from severe breathing difficulties had been admitted to hospitals since Monday.

"Most patients were discharged after treatment, though a few required several hours of observation," Yaba said.

The storm is part of a larger weather crisis affecting Iraq, where nearly 550 people were hospitalized across multiple provinces in a single day, according to health officials.

Dust storms are common in Iraq, but experts warn that climate change, prolonged drought, and desertification have intensified their frequency and severity. The UN has called for urgent action to address environmental degradation in the country.

Iraq’s Environment Ministry reports that the country now averages 272 dusty days per year—a number expected to rise to 300 by 2050.

As one of the nations most vulnerable to climate change, Iraq also faces water scarcity due to mismanagement and reduced flow from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, exacerbated by upstream dam projects.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as more dust storms are predicted in the coming days.