The Kuwait Fund for Development's contribution to financing the "Improved Resilience to Transboundary Sand and Dust Storms in Kuwait and Iraq Project" falls under its social responsibility to support Kuwait's local, regional, and international environmental commitments, as well as its efforts towards domestic development.

This contribution also reflects the Fund's humanitarian responsibility in addressing the negative impacts associated with environmental degradation, such as the increasingly frequent sand and dust storms, which have detrimental effects on public health and the economy in affected areas.

 

The project represents the culmination of joint efforts and bilateral cooperation between Kuwait and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to achieve a range of sustainable development goals. These goals include fostering sustainable cities and communities, expanding climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, and strengthening global partnerships and cooperation to achieve developmental objectives.

The project aims to reduce the quantity and frequency of sand and dust storms by 40% of the total annual sand and dust deposition in the country. It will provide a safer and healthier environment for citizens and residents and will bring environmental, economic, and social benefits to the state.

The projects aims to reduce the frequency of storms originating from two areas in the Al-Muthanna and Dhi Qar governorates of Iraq, located approximately 250 kilometers north of the Kuwaiti border. These areas directly impact Kuwait and, to some extent, Qatar.

The project seeks to identify the main causes of sand and dust storms from climatic, geological, and chemical perspectives, in order to enhance the resilience and adaptability of affected areas and to absorb the negative impacts. This will be achieved by gathering information through specialized programs that assist in fieldwork aimed at reducing the phenomenon and its adverse effects.

Additionally, the project will develop the necessary tools and data that can help mitigate the negative impacts of sand and dust storms in this region and in other parts of the world where such storms pose health and economic risks.

The project includes four main components:

1. Technical, Medical, and Economic Preparations:
   Establishing institutional preparations, action plans, and identifying prevailing health, physical, natural, and economic indicators in the project areas in Kuwait and Iraq to determine the necessary measures for combating and adapting to sand and dust storms.
2. Statistics, Measurements, and Specifications for Project Implementation:
   Preparing a comprehensive database for analysis and assessment, utilizing historical statistics and baseline data to accurately identify physical, natural, health, and economic risks of storms, as well as the methods for adaptation and mitigation. This will aid in prioritizing and planning implementation measures to address the negative impacts of storms.
3. Supply and Execution Contracts:
   Issuing tenders and selecting contractors to carry out the work that will contribute to mitigating the negative impacts of storms.
4. Monitoring and Comparing Implementation Results with Baseline Conditions:
   Monitoring and follow-up through the establishment of meteorological observatories (early warning centers) to ensure the achievement of storm mitigation and adaptation objectives.

The project also includes the following key activities:

1. Detailed Studies for Project Implementation:
   The technical and scientific teams will develop fieldwork plans, identify prevailing health, physical, natural, and economic indicators in the project areas in Kuwait and Iraq, particularly the area approximately 250 kilometers north of the Kuwaiti border, which is a primary source of sand and dust storms affecting the region. This area contributes approximately 40% of the storms experienced in Kuwait. The technical team will also prepare comprehensive data lists for analysis and evaluation, based on historical statistics and baseline data, to establish the necessary priorities and field implementation plans.
2. Clay Capping:
   Heavy machinery, such as excavators and soil dump trucks, will be used to place a heavy clay layer that becomes cohesive when it rains, reducing the likelihood of movement by wind. This will allow natural vegetation to grow, which will help plant windbreaks, stabilize the soil, and increase vegetation density, significantly reducing the chances of wind erosion.
3. Water Provision:
   It is essential to ensure a steady water supply to sustain the vegetated areas. The following water sources have been identified:
   • Water Intake from the Eastern Euphrates River: The intake is located on the western side of the sand dune site along the sand strip, where a 40 km long canal will be dug to irrigate the areas to be planted on both sides of the canal.
   • The Area Between Dhi Qar and Maysan Governorates: An inspection of the area between Dhi Qar and Maysan governorates revealed that it is agricultural land abandoned due to a lack of irrigation water, which led to the formation of sand dunes. The project will assist farmers by providing water to their lands through the construction of water facilities such as wells and irrigation channels.
4. Institutional Support:
   The project will support agricultural activities among farmers, such as encouraging the establishment of nurseries equipped with all the necessary materials and equipment to create a sustainable agricultural area.
5. Training and Capacity Building for Technical and Administrative Staff:
   The project will provide the technical team with the services and equipment needed to monitor the impact of fieldwork on the causes of sand and dust storms, in terms of quantity and frequency, and to assess the material, health, and economic benefits of the project. Additionally, the project will work to ensure the sustainability of resilience and adaptability to these storms through intensive training programs, raising environmental awareness, and establishing well-equipped meteorological observatories and early warning centers in both Iraq and Kuwait.

The State of Kuwait's initiative to support this environmental project is a remarkable example of regional and international cooperation, both scientifically and environmentally, to achieve a global success story in addressing sand and dust storms at their sources, providing a safer and cleaner environment for affected populations now and in the future.