Ahead of the UN Decade of Combating Dust Storms, Kuwait is Solving a $620M Problem by Tackling Storms at Source

Sand and dust may cross borders unnoticed, yet they affect the air quality, health and livelihood of millions around the world – which is why the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) calls them the 'underappreciated' extreme weather events. Every year, two billion tons of sand and dust enter the atmosphere, according to UNCCD data, the equivalent weight of about a billion cars.

As climate change accelerates the desertification already underway due to human activities, the frequency of these storms is highly increasing, according to the World Health Organization. Therefore, in July 2024, the UN General Assembly declared that 2025-2034 will be the Decade of Combating Sand and Dust Storms. The UN resolution stated that the problem is so severe as it threatens 11 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, those pillars the world adopted to achieve peace and prosperity by 2030.

One country that is all too familiar with such storms is Kuwait. The Middle Eastern nation is host to eight wind paths that stir up to 60 tons per square kilometer of dust from Iraq. The dust and sand travels 250 kilometers to reach the Kuwait borders, and spread as far as Bahrain and Qatar too, impacting urban and coastal communities alike. Kuwait estimated that the health, environmental and economic problems that result amount to about 190 million Kuwait Dinars (US$620 million) annually.

“This phenomenon causes all kinds of problems,” says Manar Mansour, Engineering First Specialist at the Kuwait Fund, the international development arm of the Kuwaiti government. “These storms affect all aspects of daily life and bring havoc to economic and social well-being, including disruption to oil facilities, power generation stations, blockage of transport network and port activities, and most importantly causes many health problems to the affected population. Such storms are considered weather events that have a significant adverse impact on the lives of people in Kuwait and the region as a whole.”

Treating Soil, Planting Trees, and restoring Ecosystem

In 2021, the Kuwait Fund decided to step in.

In cooperation with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), the Fund provided a grant of 4 million Kuwaiti Dinars (about US $13 million) to finance a project that aims to address the causes of the sand and dust storms, and apply mitigating interventions to reduce the negative impacts of these storms in the region.

Entitled Improved Resilience against Transboundary Sand and Dust Storms in Kuwait and Southern Iraq, the project aims to improve the resilience of cities and communities in Kuwait and southern Iraq to transboundary sand and dust storms through improved knowledge and understanding of the conditions that originate sand and dust storms and the impact that results from them. Restoring the ecosystem in the origin areas of the sand and dust storms and enhancing the capacity of authorities and communities in southern Iraq to adapt to the impact of desertification and mitigate the causes of sandstorms resulting from climate change. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Serving Generations

Sand storms are not only here to stay, they have increased ‘dramatically’, according to the UNCCD. At least 25 percent of the occurrence comes from human activities, such as deforestation, land degradation, and water mismanagement. Globally, 330 million people are exposed daily to particles transported by wind, sometimes for thousands of kilometers from source areas: in some regions, dust is the main source of air pollution, the UNCCD says.

Projects such as this one strengthen climate adaptation and protect vulnerable populations, providing a safe and clean environment for inhabitants living along the wind path for generations to come.

“In its current phase, the Kuwait Fund is prioritizing initiatives to protect the environment” says Eng. Manar, “As climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the international community today, finding solutions has become a priority for every country due to its threat not only to the environment, but to all aspects of life”.

Eng. Manar added, “This intervention by the Kuwait Fund is an excellent example of effective and impactful collaboration as it will involve a wide range of important implementation partners, including Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Iraqi and international academic institutions, as well as involved line ministries.”

Partners in Development

Beyond its tangible benefits, the project is an extraordinary example of regional and international cooperation. Scientists from all over the world are participating, and the project itself is relevant for communities across the globe.

"This initiative is the first of its kind in the Middle East,” says Ameera Al-Hasan, Head of UN-Habitat Country Programme in Kuwait and representative for the Gulf Cooperation Council. "In bringing together multiple partners committed to its success, it aims not only to tackle regional climate challenges but also to set a model for climate resilience globally.”