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  • Publication | 2025

Rapid flood impact assessment on water management infrastructure and agriculture in Eastern Libya in 2023

Global Food and Nutrition Security

In October 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) carried out rapid geospatial flood impact assessment in Eastern Libya, employing state-of-the-art technology and satellite data. This assessment focused on six critical parameters: 1) annual water extent in dams and reservoirs, 2) flood extent mapping using Sentinel-1 data at 10-metre resolution, 3) a detailed land cover map derived from Sentinel-2 data for the year 2023 using national land cover reference system, 4) an assessment of population exposure to flood risks, 5) the extent of irrigated cropland, and 6) the exposure of farmers to flooded irrigated cropland. The administrative boundary layer from Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) is used. The findings point towards the necessity of region-specific flood mitigation strategies that address both human and agricultural vulnerabilities, with a view to preserving food security and community livelihoods post-disaster.