Kelafo (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Kelafo is one of the 47 woreda
s in the Somali Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Gode Zone
, Kelafo is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River
which separates it from the Afder Zone
, on the west by Danan
, on the north by the Korahe Zone
, and on the east by Mustahil
. The major town in Kelafo is Kelafo
.
The average elevation in this woreda is 374 meters above sea level. , Kelafo has 35 kilometers of all-weather gravel road and 300 kilometers of community roads; about 6.36% of the total population has access to drinking water.
subclan, who at the time controlled the town. These refugees, on their way to Kalafo, had to avoid Mustahil which was also controlled by the Habar Gidir, and arrived by way of a small village called Shibo. The woreda government claimed that the camp holding these refugees, located outside of Kelafo, contained 15,000 people, although the Federal government estimated it held 5,000 refugees and the United Nations Development Programme
estimated the camp had contained 4,050 people by 12 August of that year.
Kelafo was one of the woredas heavily affected by the flash floods in Ethiopia during September 2006. Losses reported for this woreda include the deaths of 28 people and 5,800 livestock. The Shebelle River burst its banks again in November 2008 and affected 14 kebele
s and 85 villages in Kelafo, washing away crops on 164 hectares of farmland, displacing 36,888 people and killing three.
The ability to graze livestock in Kelafo is currently under threat by the arrival of the invasive
Prosopis juliflora
, which is known in Somali
as birsoobis literally "when the stem is cut it sprouts with shoots".
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 103,503, of whom 50,234 are men and 53,269 are women; 14,242 or 13.76% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 25.2%. Information is not available for the area of Kelafo, so its density cannot be calculated. This woreda is inhabited by the following Somali
groups: the Bah Geri of the Ogaden
, the Hawiye
, and the Rer Bare
.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 82,668, of whom 43,252 were men and 39,416 were women; 9,551 or 11.55% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Kelafo was the Somali
82,353 (99.6%).
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Somali Region
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
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...
. Part of the Gode Zone
Gode Zone
Gode is one of nine Zones of the Somali Region, Ogaden, of Ethiopia. This zone is named for its largest city, Gode. Gode is bordered on the south by Afder, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north by Fiq and Degehabur, on the northeast by Korahe and Werder, and on the east by the Provisional...
, Kelafo is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River
Shebelle River
The Shebelle River begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal...
which separates it from the Afder Zone
Afder Zone
Afder is one of the nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Afder is bordered on the southwest by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from Liben, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north and northeast by the Shebelle River which separates it from Gode, and on the east and...
, on the west by Danan
Danan (woreda)
Danan is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, named after its major town, Danan. Part of the Gode Zone, Danan is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Afder Zone, on the west by Gode, on the north by the Degehabur Zone, on the east by the Korahe...
, on the north by the Korahe Zone
Korahe Zone
Korahe is one of nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Korahe is bordered on the south and west by Gode, on the north by Degehabur, and on the east by Werder...
, and on the east by Mustahil
Mustahil (woreda)
Mustahil is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gode Zone, Mustahil is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Afder Zone, in the west by Kelafo, on the north by the Korahe Zone, and in the east by Ferfer. The major town in this...
. The major town in Kelafo is Kelafo
Kelafo
Kelafo is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Gode Zone of the Somali Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of and an elevation of 233 meters above sea level....
.
The average elevation in this woreda is 374 meters above sea level. , Kelafo has 35 kilometers of all-weather gravel road and 300 kilometers of community roads; about 6.36% of the total population has access to drinking water.
History
Fighting in Beledweyn across the border in Somalia in mid-July 1994 led to an influx of people arriving daily at Kalafo until 28 July. The majority of these people were Hawadle subclan members fleeing the Habar GidirHabar Gidir
The Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
subclan, who at the time controlled the town. These refugees, on their way to Kalafo, had to avoid Mustahil which was also controlled by the Habar Gidir, and arrived by way of a small village called Shibo. The woreda government claimed that the camp holding these refugees, located outside of Kelafo, contained 15,000 people, although the Federal government estimated it held 5,000 refugees and the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
estimated the camp had contained 4,050 people by 12 August of that year.
Kelafo was one of the woredas heavily affected by the flash floods in Ethiopia during September 2006. Losses reported for this woreda include the deaths of 28 people and 5,800 livestock. The Shebelle River burst its banks again in November 2008 and affected 14 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 and 85 villages in Kelafo, washing away crops on 164 hectares of farmland, displacing 36,888 people and killing three.
The ability to graze livestock in Kelafo is currently under threat by the arrival of the invasive
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora is a shrub or small tree native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It has become established as a weed in Asia, Australia and elsewhere. Its uses include forage, wood and environmental management. The tree grows to a height of up to and has a trunk with a diameter of...
, which is known in Somali
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
as birsoobis literally "when the stem is cut it sprouts with shoots".
Demographics
Based on figures published 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...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 103,503, of whom 50,234 are men and 53,269 are women; 14,242 or 13.76% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 25.2%. Information is not available for the area of Kelafo, so its density cannot be calculated. This woreda is inhabited by the following Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
groups: the Bah Geri of the Ogaden
Ogaden (clan)
The Ogaden is a Somali clan, and one of the largest Darod subclans.-Overview:Members of the Ogaden clan primarily live in the central Ogaden plateau of Ethiopia , the North Eastern Province of Kenya, and the Jubaland region of Southern Somalia...
, the Hawiye
Hawiye
The Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
, and the Rer Bare
Rer Bare
The Rer Bare are a tribe in Ethiopia's eastern Ogaden region on the Shabele River, near Somalia, who currently speak Somali...
.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 82,668, of whom 43,252 were men and 39,416 were women; 9,551 or 11.55% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Kelafo was the Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
82,353 (99.6%).