中东地区遭遇罕见沙尘暴

Twelve people have died and millions are suffering with respiratory problems after a severe sandstorm swept through the Middle East. Environmental experts warned on Wednesday that climate change is affecting the frequency and scale of sandstorms in the region.

The sandstorm, which entered its third day on Wednesday, caused the deaths of four people in Lebanon, while sending as many as 2,000 to hospitals due to breathing problems. It also hit Syria, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Egypt.

The sandstorm began in Syria on Sunday and killed six people in the central province of Hama Tuesday, while causing asphyxiation and breathing problems.

In Jordan, experts recommended that people stay indoors, and wear masks soaked in water if they needed to venture outside. Temperatures in Amman on Wednesday rose to 39 degrees Celsius.