Why Sandstorms Can Be A Great Thing

I was at a meeting while this thing was brewing in Djibouti. When I came out at about 5:15 PM it looked strangely foggy, then I figured it had been a sandstorm - - - my roommate later confirmed this. So my 80 minute walk with the body armor on found me looking like a bandit with my mouth and nose covered but with the sun blocked, the temperature was a lot cooler.