International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms

Date: July 12
First Observed: 2023
Organized by: United Nations (UN)
Main UN Body Involved:

• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

• In partnership with WMO, UNEP, FAO, and WHO

Purpose and Objectives

This day was established to:

1. Raise global awareness about the devastating impact of sand and dust storms (SDS).

2. Promote international collaboration to reduce SDS risks.

3. Encourage early warning systems, data sharing, and policy action to prevent SDS.

4. Support sustainable land management to address root causes like:

   • Desertification

   • Land degradation

   • Deforestation

   • Climate change

What Are Sand and Dust Storms (SDS)?

Sand and dust storms are meteorological hazards where high-velocity winds lift large quantities of dust and sand from dry soils into the atmosphere, affecting visibility, air quality, human health, and the environment.

• Natural causes: wind erosion, drought, dry landscapes

• Human-made triggers: overgrazing, poor agricultural practices, deforestation

Global Impact of SDS

Health Effects:

• Severe respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, and lung infections

• Eye infections and skin irritation

• Increased cardiovascular risks

Environmental & Economic Effects:

• Loss of fertile topsoil

• Crop damage and reduced agricultural productivity

• Transport delays and aviation hazards

• Economic losses in billions of dollars annually

Regions Most Affected

SDS are a global concern, but particularly severe in:

• North Africa (Sahara region)

• Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia)

• Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan)

• East Asia (China, Mongolia — known for the "Asian Dust")

• Australia (outback regions)

• Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of India and Pakistan

More than 150 countries are affected annually.

UN Actions and International Coordination

• Global SDS Source Base Map developed by UNEP and WMO

• SDS-WAS (Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System) by WMO monitors, predicts, and shares early warnings

• UNCCD assists governments with land rehabilitation and anti-desertification strategies

• Promotes cross-border collaboration and community-level resilience projects

Thematic Focus (2024–2025)

Each year focuses on a key theme such as:

• 2023: “Working Together to Combat SDS”

• 2024: “Restoring Lands, Reducing Storms” (hypothetical theme, not official)

Themes aim to link SDS mitigation to sustainable land use, climate action, and health protection.

How to Observe the Day

• Awareness Campaigns in schools, communities, and online

• Promote data and research sharing between nations

• Tree planting and soil protection projects

• Policy dialogues on land management and climate adaptation

• Support science-based forecasting tools and early warning systems

Key Messages

• "SDS know no borders. Our solutions shouldn’t either."

• "Healthy land, healthy air, healthy lives."

• "Combat sand and dust storms by restoring the land we share."