Assessing Flood Risks and Social Impacts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive review of existing research on flood risks and associated social impacts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within the context of climate change. The review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies focusing on flood hazard mapping, hydrological modeling, land use/land cover (LULC) change, vulnerability assessment, and precipitation variability in the region. Relevant literature was identified through academic databases and institutional publications using targeted keywords related to flood risk, climate change, GIS-based modeling, and Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

A thematic and comparative analytical approach was applied to evaluate methodological frameworks, spatial modeling techniques, and key findings across the selected studies. The synthesis reveals that flood susceptibility in KRI is primarily influenced by topography, rainfall variability, rapid urbanization, and land use transformation. While most studies employ GIS, remote sensing, and multi-criteria decision-making models such as AHP and EBF to map hazard zones, limited attention has been given to integrated social vulnerability and public health impacts.

The review identifies critical research gaps, particularly the absence of region-wide integrated flood risk models that combine climatic, hydrological, and socio-environmental dimensions. The findings emphasize the need for interdisciplinary assessment frameworks and improved flood management strategies to support evidence-based policy and climate adaptation planning in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.