A dust storm in Australia. Underestimated threat: sandy and dust storms do not know the boundaries The climate and the environment everyone knows about the three great pyramids in Egypt. Now imagine that there are not three, but 307. And then imagine that they all scattered into more than two billion tons of sand and dust. It is such a number of sandy and dust particles, according to the World Meteorological Organization (VMO), that rises annually as a result of storms that carry particles around the world. 62 ~ according to the annual report of VMO, despite a slight decrease in dust volumes in 2024, its impact on people and the economy continues to grow. According to the UN agency, more than 330 million people in 150 countries suffer from sandy and dust storms. This leads to health problems, including deadly and serious economic losses. ~ 60 > not just a dark sky 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62“Sandy and dust storms are not just dirty windows and a heaven -covered sky. They undermine the health and quality of life of millions of people and cost millions of dollars, ”said the general secretary of VMO CENSTE Saulo. ~ 60 > although the transfer of sand and dust is a natural meteorological process, over the past decades it has intensified due to land degradation and water management of water resources. ~ 60 > to 80 percent of dust particles come from North Africa and the Middle East. These particles can overcome thousands of kilometers – through borders and oceans. 60 ~ p > “that which begins like a storm in sugar, can tighten the sky over Europe. The dust raised in Central Asia affects the quality of air in China. The atmosphere does not recognize the borders, ”explained Sarah Basart, a researcher at VMO, at a briefing in Geneva. ~ 60 > this happened in 2024: dust and sand from Western Sahara reached the Canary Islands in Spain, and strong winds and drought to Mongolia brought dust to Peckine and Peking and drought. Northern China. The threat gaining strength “these extreme weather phenomena can no longer be considered local abnormalities. Sandy and dust storms are rapidly turning into one of the most underestimated, but at the same time the largest global problems of our time, ”said a senior representative, speaking on behalf of the chairman of the General Assembly of the Filen Yang. storms can close access to the sunny light, violating the ecosystems like on land and so on land. And in the ocean. In addition to environmental consequences, they seriously affect people’s health and cause economic damage. ~ 60 > “previously considered a seasonal or local phenomenon, sandy and dust storms have become a stable and growing global threat,” said Rola Dashti, coalition of the UN coalition to combat the combat. sandy and dust storms. In the period from 2018 to 2022, more than 3.8 billion people were exposed to dust particles. In the most affected regions, the air contained dust up to 87 percent of time. ~ 60 > ~ 60 > these particles exacerbate cardiovascular diseases and other health problems, annually caused seven million premature deaths, especially among vulnerable groups population. ~ 60 > Young called this data “shocking.” In economically, the storms can reduce the yield of agricultural cultures to 20 percent, which leads to an increase in poverty and hunger in rural areas. 60 > only in the region of the Middle East and North Africa economic losses from sandy and dust storms in 2024 amounted to 2.5 percent of the total total GDP. 60 ~ h2 > one in the field is not a warrior ~ 60 > VMO calls the international community more actively investing in early warning and monitoring systems data. 60 > “Not a single country, no matter how prepared it is, will not be able to cope with this problem alone. Sandy and dust storms are a cross -border threat requiring coordinated, intersectoral and multilateral acts, ”said Rola Dashti. 62 ~ ~ 60 > proclamation 2025–2034 by a decade of struggle should, according to the Yang, become a turningore moment. He called on member states to move from awareness to actions, from disparate-to coordination.