Asosa (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Asosa is one of the 21 woreda
s in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Asosa Zone
, it is bordered by Kormuk
in the north, by Menge
in the northeast, by Bambasi
in the southeast, and by Sudan
in the west. This Woreda is named after its largest settlement, Asosa
. Rivers include the Yabus
and its tributary the Buldidine. One of the highest points in Asosa is Mount Bange.
, which would over 40,000 people. These would join one hospital, and 27 health stations or health posts which were currently providing service to over 87,000 inhabitants. Woreda officials announced that UNICEF had donated medical equipment and refrigerators worth over 2.6 million Birr to equip these clinics.
In February 2009, the Ethiopian Roads Authority announced that they had awarded a 502.8 million Birr
contract to upgrade and repair the 100-kilometer-long road linking Asosa to Kurmuk
in Sudan
. The work would be done by Sino-Hydro International, a Chinese construction company. The project is expected to start later in 2009 and take 36 months to complete. It is the last section of the highway which connects Addis Ababa
, Nekemte
, Asosa, and Kurmuk. The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Ethiopian government will finance the project.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 102,732, of whom 53,340 are men and 49,392 are women; 20,226 or 19.69% of the population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 1,991.41 square kilometers, Asosa has a population density of 51.6 people per square kilometer which is greater than the Zone average of 19.95.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 73,954 in 17,162 households, of whom 38,442 were men and 35,512 were women; 11,749 or 15.89% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Asosa were the Amhara (53%), the Berta
(34%), and the Oromo
(9.4%); all other ethnic groups made up 3.6% of the population. Amharic
is spoken as a first language by 55%, 34% speak Berta
, and 8.7% speak Oromiffa
; the remaining 2.3% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 61.5% of the population stating they embraced that faith, while 35.8% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 2.4% were Protestant
. Concerning education
, 35.33% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 18.49%; 20.72% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 3.41% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 5.6% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 63.8% of the urban houses and 50.7% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 86.7% of the urban and 9.8% of all houses had toilet facilities.
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 Benishangul-Gumuz Region 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 Asosa Zone
Asosa Zone
Asosa is one of the three Zones in Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. This Zone was named after the Asosa Sultanate, which had approximately the same boundaries. Asosa is bordered on the south by the Mao-Komo special woreda, on the west by Sudan, on the northeast by the Abay River which...
, it is bordered by Kormuk
Kormuk (woreda)
Kormuk is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Asosa Zone, it is bordered by Sudan in the north and west, Sherkole in the east, Menge in the southwest, and Asosa in the south....
in the north, by Menge
Menge (woreda)
Menge is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Asosa Zone, it is bordered by Bambasi on the south, by Asosa in the southwest, by Kormuk in the northwest, by Sherkole in the north, and by the Dabus River on the east which separates it from Oda Godere...
in the northeast, by Bambasi
Bambasi (woreda)
Bambasi is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Asosa Zone, it is bordered by the Mao-Komo special woreda on the southwest, Asosa in the northwest, by Menge in the north, by Oda Godere in the northeast, and by the Oromia Region in the south.This woreda and...
in the southeast, and by Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
in the west. This Woreda is named after its largest settlement, Asosa
Asosa
Asosa is a town in western Ethiopia and the capital of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Asosa Zone, this town has a latitude and longitude of , with an elevation of 1570 meters....
. Rivers include the Yabus
Yabus River
The Yabus River rises in the far west of Ethiopia, in Asosa Zone, flows west into Sudan past the town of Yabus, then enters South Sudan. At the town of Boing it turns south west and enters the Machar Marshes, where it loses its identity....
and its tributary the Buldidine. One of the highest points in Asosa is Mount Bange.
Recent history
Construction of two health clinics in Asosa woreda was announced 9 March 2009, at a cost of almost 2 million BirrEthiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
, which would over 40,000 people. These would join one hospital, and 27 health stations or health posts which were currently providing service to over 87,000 inhabitants. Woreda officials announced that UNICEF had donated medical equipment and refrigerators worth over 2.6 million Birr to equip these clinics.
In February 2009, the Ethiopian Roads Authority announced that they had awarded a 502.8 million Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
contract to upgrade and repair the 100-kilometer-long road linking Asosa to Kurmuk
Kurmuk
Kurmuk is a town in south-eastern Sudan near the border with Ethiopia.Kurmuk is inhabited by the Uduk and Berta peoples and is controlled by the SPLM....
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. The work would be done by Sino-Hydro International, a Chinese construction company. The project is expected to start later in 2009 and take 36 months to complete. It is the last section of the highway which connects Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Nekemte
Nekemte
Nekemte is a market town in western Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Welega Zone of the Oromia Region , Nekemte has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2,088 meters....
, Asosa, and Kurmuk. The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa is a financial institution funded by the Governments of the Member States of the League of Arab States on 18 February 1974 . It is an independent international institution enjoying international legal status and autonomy in administrative and...
, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Ethiopian government will finance the project.
Demographics
Based on figures from 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 102,732, of whom 53,340 are men and 49,392 are women; 20,226 or 19.69% of the population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 1,991.41 square kilometers, Asosa has a population density of 51.6 people per square kilometer which is greater than the Zone average of 19.95.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 73,954 in 17,162 households, of whom 38,442 were men and 35,512 were women; 11,749 or 15.89% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Asosa were the Amhara (53%), the Berta
Berta people
The Berta or Bertha are an ethnic group living along the border of Sudan and Ethiopia. They speak a Nilo-Saharan language that is not related to those of their Nilo-Saharan neighbors . Their total Ethiopian population is about 183,000 people....
(34%), and the 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...
(9.4%); all other ethnic groups made up 3.6% of the population. Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
is spoken as a first language by 55%, 34% speak Berta
Berta language
Berta, Wetawit, is spoken by the Berta in Sudan and Ethiopia. It is a language isolate which has been also included as branch of the proposed Nilo-Saharan language family. It has the typical word order subject–verb–object. It is a tonal language. It has significantly influenced some of the...
, and 8.7% speak Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
; the remaining 2.3% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
, with 61.5% of the population stating they embraced that faith, while 35.8% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 2.4% were Protestant
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
. Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 35.33% of the population were considered literate, which is more than the Zone average of 18.49%; 20.72% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 3.41% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 5.6% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, 63.8% of the urban houses and 50.7% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 86.7% of the urban and 9.8% of all houses had toilet facilities.