The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) said that the recent dust storms in the country are due to climate changes and droughts in Afghanistan and Asian countries.

NEPA said that it needs support from international organizations to counter the effects of such natural events in Afghanistan.

“The dust and foggy weather is due to external issues such as back-to-back droughts,” said Rohullah Ameen, head of the climate change section of the NEPA.

This comes as dusty wind has engulfed the city of Kabul.

“1.5 percent of the country is forest, we cannot reduce the air pollution. Also, the government has also been unable to take serious actions to prevent air pollution,” said Sayed Mohammad Sulaimankhail, an environmental issue analyst. “…There were 32 projects in Afghanistan with practical implementation but they were suspended by the Global Environment Facility due to political issues.”

The Afghanistan Meteorological Department estimated that these winds will be moving in some other provinces of the country for a period of two months.

“The winds that include dust will be happening in June, July until September in dry areas. This comes sometimes from the west and sometimes from the northwest or southwest of the country,” said Mohammad Naseem Muradi, head of the Afghanistan Meteorological Department.

Earlier, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) said that Kabul's air pollution levels have tripled over the past week, adding that airborne particles and climate change are key factors contributing to the capital city's growing air pollution.