Sandstorm

Sandstorms occur in the Sahara Desert in Africa, and other desert regions including the Arabian Peninsular. They are known as a Haboob.

The Sandstorm is characterised by its sudden onset, appearing as a wall of solid clouds, where the sun becomes obscured, visibility drops to a few feet, and high winds arise.
The leading edge of the sandstorm can be a wall of sand up to one mile (1.6km) high. Heavy objects can be picked up in the high winds and dropped.

Travellers in the Desert are easily separated, becoming lost and disoriented. To survive they must huddle together and shelter on the ground, covering their eyes, nose and ears with a cloth. Prolonged exposure to sand in the eyes can lead to blindness, and sand in the mouth to asphyxiation. Survival consists of being covered with a blanket and protecting the head with the arms or clothing.
The Camel is able to withstand Sandstorms because it has bushy eyebrows to prevent sand falling into its eyes, two sets of eyelashes and three eyelids to protect its eyes, can completely close its slitted nostrils and has a thick lips tp prevent sand getting into its mouth. It has a leathery skin which protects it from the sand and their ears are filled with thick fur which prevents sand getting inside. their ears.

In 542 BCE. According to Herodotus (3.26) Cambyses II of Persia invaded Egypt and sent an army 50,000 men to the Siwa Oasis. They were caught up in a sandstorm and every man lost, never to return.