Assessing Food Security in Conflict-Affected Gaza through Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have employed a multi-dimensional approach to assess food security in Gaza from 2018 to 2024, utilizing satellite imagery, land cover maps, and economic data to construct a composite food security index. The study highlights a substantial decline in agricultural productivity, marked by a 45% decrease in NDVI values from 2018 to 2024. The findings also reveal a 180% increase in food prices post-October 2023, underscoring the economic volatility exacerbated by conflict.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study used a multi-dimensional approach to assess food security in Gaza, integrating Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, a Random Forest-derived land cover map, food price inflation data, and import statistics.
  • Agricultural productivity in Gaza declined significantly from 2018 to 2024, with NDVI values decreasing by 45% (from 0.25 to 0.16).
  • The study found a substantial rise in food imports, corresponding with the decline in agricultural productivity.
  • A marked increase in food prices of 180% post-October 2023 was observed, highlighting the economic volatility exacerbated by conflict.
  • Food security assessments in conflict-affected regions face significant methodological challenges, including restricted ground access, data scarcity, and disruptions to agricultural production and food distribution networks.
  • The study employed a Random Forest-derived land cover map to classify agricultural land use in Gaza.
  • Food price inflation data and import statistics were used to construct a composite food security index.
  • Researchers used Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to assess changes in agricultural productivity in Gaza.

Statistics:

  • 45% decrease in NDVI values from 2018 to 2024.
  • 180% increase in food prices post-October 2023.
  • Food imports rose substantially, corresponding with the decline in agricultural productivity.
  • 0.25 - 0.16 decrease in NDVI values (2018 - 2024).
  • October 2023 - the period when food prices began to rise sharply.

Sources:

  • "Assessing Food Security in Restricted Access Areas Using Remote Sensing: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Gaza from 2018 to 2024" (The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences - http://www.isprs.org/publications/archives.aspx)
  • http://www.isprs.org/publications/archives.aspx
  • https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-G-2025-717-2025 (free version of the journal article)