Aware (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Aware is one of the 67 woreda
s in the Somali Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Degehabur Zone
, Aware is bordered on the south by the Korahe Zone
, on the west by Degehabur
, on the north by the Jijiga Zone
, and on the east by Misraq Gashamo
. The map of the Oromia Region published by Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (2006) differs from the one from UN-OCHO (2003) by showing the southern half of its territory is occupied by Gunagadow woreda. Towns in Aware include Aware, Daroor, Kam Aboker, and Rabaso.
, the lands in Aware are dry pasturage, which traditionally were abandoned by the local nomadic pastoralists for areas with abundant water (like Ceynabo, Burco
and Odweyne
in Somaliland
, or outside the Haud in Danot
woreda with its wells) with the advent of the dry season. However, the construction of private birkas (underground concrete water tanks), a development which started in the 1950s and later on dramatically increased after the 1970s, offered a solution to the absence of permanent water. While this encouraged birka owners to further diversify traditional animal husbandry beyond camels and small ruminants into water-dependent cattle, this also increased livestock population in an overpopulated region, putting additional pressure on shrinking resource base; the vicinity of almost every settlement in Aware have become overgrazed by cattle belonging to the villagers, thus driving away ideal nomads raising camels and small ruminants in the eternal search for pasture and water.
As part of their response to the local insurgency
, the Ethiopian army enforced a trade embargo on part of the Somali Region which includes Aware. In early June 2007, a truck transporting goods (sugar, oil, and other food items) from Hargeysa was stopped by a military patrol 12 kilometers from Aware town, near the village of Dud Adaad. The patrol accused the truck's owner of delivering food to the Ogaden National Liberation Front
, and confiscated his truck. In mid-September of the same year, three more commercial trucks traveling from Hargeysa to Aware were stopped and confiscated by the army at Bukudhaba village.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 132,149, of whom 61,685 were men and 70,464 were women; 33,582 or 25.41% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 22.3%. Information is not available on the area of Aware, so its population density cannot be calculated. This woreda is inhabited by the Ogaden
Somali
clans.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 103,337, of whom 55,839 were men and 47,498 were women; 22,518 or 21.79% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Erer was the Somali
.
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 Degehabur Zone
Degehabur Zone
Degehabur Zone is one of the nine Zones in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. This zone is named after its largest city, Degehabur. Degehabur Zone is bordered on the south by Korahe, on the west by Fiq, on the northwest by the Oromia Region, on the north by Jijiga and Somalia, and on the east by...
, Aware is bordered on the south 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...
, on the west by Degehabur
Degehabur (woreda)
Degehabur is one of the 52 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Degehabur Zone, Degehabur is bordered on the south by the Gunagado, on the southwest by the Fiq Zone, on the northwest by Degehamedo, on the north by the Jijiga Zone, on the east by Aware, and on the southeast by the...
, on the north by the Jijiga Zone
Jijiga Zone
Jijiga is one of nine zones of the Ethiopian Somali Region. This zone is named after its largest city, Jijiga. Other towns and cities in this zone include Qarbibayax, Dhurwaale Awbere, Derwonaji, tuli gulled and Hart Sheik...
, and on the east by Misraq Gashamo
Misraq Gashamo
Misraq Gashamo is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Degehabur Zone, Misraq Gashamo is bordered on the south by the Werder Zone, on the west by Aware, and on the north and east by Somalia; it is frequently considered part of the Haud...
. The map of the Oromia Region published by Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (2006) differs from the one from UN-OCHO (2003) by showing the southern half of its territory is occupied by Gunagadow woreda. Towns in Aware include Aware, Daroor, Kam Aboker, and Rabaso.
Overview
As part of the HaudHaud
Haud is a region of thorn-bush and grasslands in the Horn of Africa, which includes the northeastern part of the Ogaden territory of Ethiopia, as well the adjacent parts of Somalia. The Haud is of indeterminate extent; some authorities consider it denotes the part of Ethiopia east of the city of...
, the lands in Aware are dry pasturage, which traditionally were abandoned by the local nomadic pastoralists for areas with abundant water (like Ceynabo, Burco
Burco
Burao is the capital city of the Togdheer province in Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. In terms of population, it is the second largest city in Somaliland after Hargeisa.-History:...
and Odweyne
Odweyne
Odweyne is a town in the northwestern Togdheer province of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.-Overview:Odweyne is the capital of the Odweyne District...
in Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, or outside the Haud in Danot
Danot (woreda)
Danot is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, named after its major town, Danot. Part of the Werder Zone, Danot is bordered on the south by Werder, on the west by the Degehabur Zone, on the north by Somalia, and on the east by Boh....
woreda with its wells) with the advent of the dry season. However, the construction of private birkas (underground concrete water tanks), a development which started in the 1950s and later on dramatically increased after the 1970s, offered a solution to the absence of permanent water. While this encouraged birka owners to further diversify traditional animal husbandry beyond camels and small ruminants into water-dependent cattle, this also increased livestock population in an overpopulated region, putting additional pressure on shrinking resource base; the vicinity of almost every settlement in Aware have become overgrazed by cattle belonging to the villagers, thus driving away ideal nomads raising camels and small ruminants in the eternal search for pasture and water.
As part of their response to the local insurgency
2007–2008 Ethiopian crackdown in Ogaden
The 2007–2008 Ethiopian crackdown in Ogaden was a campaign involving the Ethiopian Army on the offensive against the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front...
, the Ethiopian army enforced a trade embargo on part of the Somali Region which includes Aware. In early June 2007, a truck transporting goods (sugar, oil, and other food items) from Hargeysa was stopped by a military patrol 12 kilometers from Aware town, near the village of Dud Adaad. The patrol accused the truck's owner of delivering food to the Ogaden National Liberation Front
Ogaden National Liberation Front
The Ogaden National Liberation Front , is a separatist rebel group fighting to make the region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia an independent state...
, and confiscated his truck. In mid-September of the same year, three more commercial trucks traveling from Hargeysa to Aware were stopped and confiscated by the army at Bukudhaba village.
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 132,149, of whom 61,685 were men and 70,464 were women; 33,582 or 25.41% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 22.3%. Information is not available on the area of Aware, so its population density cannot be calculated. This woreda is inhabited by 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...
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...
clans.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 103,337, of whom 55,839 were men and 47,498 were women; 22,518 or 21.79% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Erer 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...
.