Iraq a Main Host and Speaker at International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms at U.N headquarters in New York

Iraq, Iran and Senegal hosted an important event at the United Nations, with high level participation from member states, specialized international agencies and programs concerned with environment, on the occasion of the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with active contribution of Iraq and countries most affected.

The Chargé d’Affaires of Iraq Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Dr. Abbas Kadhom Obaid, as one of the event’s hosts and main speakers, gave a speech in which he expressed Iraq’s concerns regarding this sensitive and important matter, commending the efforts of the UN Secretary General, and international agencies in assisting Iraq through technical institutions in developing realistic plans with a tangible impact to reduce these storms and their harmful effects on various sectors in the country, including agriculture, health, and the economy.

Dr. Obaid stressed that Iraq is sparing no effort in addressing this phenomenon, as it is working locally to establish green belts around Iraqi cities and governorates, and to expand the uses of clean energy. In addition, Iraq is cooperating with countries in the region and the world to address water scarcity, build capacity, and invest in research and modern technology to manage and maximize resources. He pointed out that Iraq looks at these storms comprehensively, and is trying with all its partners from countries and concerned institutions to find the best solutions, because it is a transboundary issue with its causes and effects on humans, the environment, and the development process. Therefore, it is necessary to combine regional and international efforts through international cooperation and collective action to address it.