Administrative Zone 1 (Afar)
Encyclopedia
Administrative Zone 1 is one of five Zones of the Afar Region
of Ethiopia
. This zone is bordered on the south by Administrative Zone 3
, on the southwest by Administrative Zone 5
, on the west by the Amhara Region
, on the northwest by Administrative Zones 4
and 2
, on the north by Eritrea
, and on the east by Djibouti
.
The largest town in Zone 1 is Asayita. Rivers in this Zone include the Awash
and its tributaries the Mille
and Logiya River
s. There are a chain of six interconnected lakes in this Zone, fed by the Awash: from north to south they are Gargori, Laitali, Gummare
, Bario
and Lake Abbe
(or Abhe Bad).
an political party Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
in 1994, 18,000 Djiboutians fled to this Zone. Most of these refugees are scattered along the main road from Ayasita to Bure, either integrated into local settlements, or - in the case of nomads - allowed to graze their animals in the areas of their host clans.
In August 1999, a planned release of waters from the Koka Reservoir
resulted in flooding by the Awash -- although an investigation afterwards showed the flooding was caused by dike failures and silting of the Awash. Approximately 4,000 hectares of cropland in the Zone and 3 rural kebele
s in Asayita
, 5 in Afambo
and 8 in Dubti
woredas were affected.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 410,790, of whom 224,656 are men and 186,134 women; with an area of 30,242.10 square kilometers, it has a population density of 13.58. While 82,886 or 20.18% are urban inhabitants, a further 178,557 or 43.47% were pastoralists. A total of 75,735 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 5.4 persons to a household, and 78,104 housing units.
The 1996 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 327,901, of whom 186,616 were men and 141,285 women; 42,213 or 12.9% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The major ethnic groupings in 1996 were 88.09% Afar
, 9.98% Amhara
, 0.75% Tigrean, and 0.71% Oromo
. Of the school-age school-age children, 4.86% (5.05% male and 4.60% female) were currently attending school, which is higher than the Regional average; 11.28% of the total population over the age of 10 (12.93% male and 9.14% female) are reported to be literate.
and sorghum
; data is missing for the land planted in pulses and vegetables, but 3.54 hectares was planted in fruit trees, 0.9 hectares in banana
s and 0.91 in guava
s. 5.53% of the farmers both raise crops and livestock, while 17.35% only grow crops and 77.12% only raise livestock. Land tenure in this Zone is distributed between 76.63% own their land, 7.65% rent, and the remaining 15.72% are held under other forms of tenure.
Afar Region
Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. This zone is bordered on the south by Administrative Zone 3
Administrative Zone 3 (Afar)
Administrative Zone 3 is one of five Zones of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. This zone is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the southwest by the Amhara Region, on the west by the Argobba special woreda and Administrative Zone 5, on the north by Administrative Zone 1, and on the east by...
, on the southwest by Administrative Zone 5
Administrative Zone 5 (Afar)
Administrative Zone 5 is one of five Zones of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. Stretching along the eastern base of the Ethiopian highlands, this Zone is bordered on the south and east by Administrative Zone 3, on the west by the Amhara Region, and on the north by Administrative Zone 1...
, on the west by the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
, on the northwest by Administrative Zones 4
Administrative Zone 4 (Afar)
Administrative Zone 4 is one of five Zones of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. This zone is bordered on the south and east by Administrative Zone 1, on the west by the Amhara Region, and on the north by Administrative Zone 2...
and 2
Administrative Zone 2 (Afar)
Administrative Zone 2 is one of five Zones of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. This zone is bordered on the south by Administrative Zone 4, on the southwest by Administrative Zone 1, on the west by the Amhara Region, and on the northeast by Eritrea. The administrative center of Zone 2 is Abala...
, on the north by Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, and on the east by Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
.
The largest town in Zone 1 is Asayita. Rivers in this Zone include the Awash
Awash River
The Awash is a major river of Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti, some 100 kilometers from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura...
and its tributaries the Mille
Mille River
The Mille River is a river of Ethiopia and a tributary of the Awash. It drains parts of the Semien Wollo and Debub Wollo Zones of the Amhara Region, as well as Administrative Zone 4 of the Afar Region.The explorer L.M...
and Logiya River
Logiya River
The Logiya is a river of east-central Ethiopia. Having its source in the Ethiopian highlands, this stream flows eastwards to become a tributary of the Awash River near ....
s. There are a chain of six interconnected lakes in this Zone, fed by the Awash: from north to south they are Gargori, Laitali, Gummare
Lake Gummare
Lake Gummare is one of a chain of lakes into which the Awash River empties its waters. It is located at the eastern end of the Afar Region of Ethiopia, at .-Overview:...
, Bario
Lake Bario
Lake Bario is one of a chain of lakes into which the Awash River empties its waters. It is located at the eastern end of the Afar Region of Ethiopia, at ....
and Lake Abbe
Lake Abbe
Lake Abbe or Lake Abhe Bad is a salt lake, lying on the Ethiopia-Djibouti border. It is one of a chain of six connected lakes, which also includes lakes Gargori, Laitali, Gummare, Bario and Afambo.-Overview:...
(or Abhe Bad).
History
Following a split in the ranks of the DjiboutiDjibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
an political party Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....
in 1994, 18,000 Djiboutians fled to this Zone. Most of these refugees are scattered along the main road from Ayasita to Bure, either integrated into local settlements, or - in the case of nomads - allowed to graze their animals in the areas of their host clans.
In August 1999, a planned release of waters from the Koka Reservoir
Koka Reservoir
The Koka Reservoir is a reservoir) in south-central Ethiopia. It was created by the construction of the Koka Dam across the Awash River...
resulted in flooding by the Awash -- although an investigation afterwards showed the flooding was caused by dike failures and silting of the Awash. Approximately 4,000 hectares of cropland in the Zone and 3 rural kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s in Asayita
Asayita (woreda)
Asayita is one of the 29 woredas in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Administrative Zone 1, Asayita is bordered on the south by Afambo, on the west by Dubti, then on the north by the Awash River which separates it from Elidar, and on the east by Djibouti...
, 5 in Afambo
Afambo
Afambo is one of the 29 woredas in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. It is named after Lake Afambo, located at the border of this woreda with Asayita, near the international border with Djibouti. Part of the Administrative Zone 1, Afambo is bordered on the south by the Somali Region, on the west by...
and 8 in Dubti
Dubti (woreda)
Dubti is one of the 29 woredas in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Administrative Zone 1, Dubti is bordered on the south by the Somali Region, on the southwest by Mille, on the west by Chifra, on the northwest by Administrative Zone 4, on the north by the Administrative Zone 2, on the...
woredas were affected.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 410,790, of whom 224,656 are men and 186,134 women; with an area of 30,242.10 square kilometers, it has a population density of 13.58. While 82,886 or 20.18% are urban inhabitants, a further 178,557 or 43.47% were pastoralists. A total of 75,735 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 5.4 persons to a household, and 78,104 housing units.
The 1996 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 327,901, of whom 186,616 were men and 141,285 women; 42,213 or 12.9% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The major ethnic groupings in 1996 were 88.09% Afar
Afar people
The Afar , also known as the Danakil, are an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti, although some also inhabit the southern point of Eritrea.-Early history:...
, 9.98% Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
, 0.75% Tigrean, and 0.71% Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
. Of the school-age school-age children, 4.86% (5.05% male and 4.60% female) were currently attending school, which is higher than the Regional average; 11.28% of the total population over the age of 10 (12.93% male and 9.14% female) are reported to be literate.
Agriculture
Based on a sample enumeration of private land held in this Zone performed by the CSA in 2001, 43.1% is under cultivation, 2.82% pasture, 35.9% is fallow, and the remaining 5.15% is devoted to other uses. For the land under cultivation in this woreda, 53.32% in planted in cereals like maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
; data is missing for the land planted in pulses and vegetables, but 3.54 hectares was planted in fruit trees, 0.9 hectares in banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s and 0.91 in guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
s. 5.53% of the farmers both raise crops and livestock, while 17.35% only grow crops and 77.12% only raise livestock. Land tenure in this Zone is distributed between 76.63% own their land, 7.65% rent, and the remaining 15.72% are held under other forms of tenure.