THE United Nations general assembly has declared that 2025 to 2034 will be the world body’s Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.

Such storms are increasing in number and size, threatening health and economies from central Africa to northern China.

Ugandan UN ambassador Godfrey Kwoba, who introduced the resolution on behalf of the Group of 77, comprising 134 developing countries and China, told the 193-member assembly on Wednesday that the initiative aims to “halt and mitigate the negative effects of sand and dust storms” through “international and regional co-operation.”