Dust storms have become a public health threat in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Worsened by climate change and rising temperatures, repeated storms are putting residents' health at risk and are linked to chronic disease cases. This short documentary, Unwanted Guest, speaks to experts and residents affected by this issue.
Unwanted Guest was produced through Internews' Environmental Journalism Project in Iraq (EJI). EJI aims to improve Iraq citizens' access to the information needed to engage in civic action, make informed decisions and hold power to account. It also supports independent media to produce inclusive, fact-based, and solutions-oriented content on the impacts of climate change.
This documentary initiative sheds light on underreported environmental issues from the perspective of Iraqi filmmakers to raise public awareness and encourage fact-based discussions on the impacts of climate change.
This story was produced with support from Internews' Environmental Journalism Project in Iraq. It was originally published in Xendan on June 5, 2024.
Banner image: A film poster for the short documentary Unwanted Guest / Credit: Internews and Xendan.
Srwa Shihab
