Debarq (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Debarq is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. It is named after its largest town, Debarq
. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone
, Debarq is bordered on the south by Dabat
, on the west by Sanja
, on the northwest by the Tigray Region
, on the north by Addi Arkay
, and on the east by Jan Amora
.
This woreda is crossed by the Lamalmo Mountains, which form the western end of the Semien
. Rivers include the Zarima
.
Due to its inaccessibility and the lack of the most basic infrastructure, in 1999 the Regional government classified Debarq as one of its 47 drought prone and food insecure woredas. To alleviate this situation, the Amhara Credit and Saving Institution SC, a micro-finance institution, opened an office in Debarq in the late 1990s. On 27 May 2009, the Ethiopian Roads Authority announced work to repair and upgrade the road between Debarq and Gondar
had begun. The work on the 99 kilometers of road would be done by Sino-Hydro International, a Chinese construction company, with engineering consultancy by a South African company and an Ethiopian firm, Omega Engineers Consulting. The budget for the work is approximately 690 million Birr
.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 159,193, an increase of 31.83% over the 1994 census, of whom 80,274 are men and 78,919 women; 20,839 or 13.09% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,461.18 square kilometers, Debarq has a population density of 108.95, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 33,822 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.71 persons to a household, and 32,573 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 120,754 in 21,646 households, of whom 60,372 were men and 60,382 women; 14,474 or 11.99% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The largest ethnic group reported in Debarq was the Amhara
(99.42%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.58% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.46%; the remaining 0.54% spoke all other primary languages reported. 93.78% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 6.16% of the population said they were Muslim
.
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 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....
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...
. It is named after its largest town, Debarq
Debarq
Debarq is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located 90 kilometers north of Gondar on the paved highway between Gondar and Axum and in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2850 meters above sea level.Debarq is the closest town to the Semien...
. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
, Debarq is bordered on the south by Dabat
Dabat (woreda)
Dabat is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Dabat is bordered on the south by Wegera, on the west by Sanja, and on the northeast by Debarq. Towns in Dabat include Dabat and Wekin....
, on the west by Sanja
Sanja (woreda)
Sanja is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Sanja is bordered on the south by Chilga, on the southwest by Metemma, on the west by Sudan, on the north by the Tigray Region, on the northeast by Debarq, on the east by Dabat, and on the southeast by...
, on the northwest by the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
, on the north by Addi Arkay
Addi Arkay (woreda)
Addi Arkay is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located at the northeastern point of the Semien Gondar Zone, Addi Arkay is bordered on the south by Jan Amora, on the southwest by Debarq, on the north and east by the Tigray Region, and on the southeast by Beyeda; its eastern...
, and on the east by Jan Amora
Jan Amora
Jan Amora is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Jan Amora is bordered on the south by Belessa, on the southwest by Wegera, on the west by Debarq, on the north by Addi Arkay, and on the east by Beyeda...
.
This woreda is crossed by the Lamalmo Mountains, which form the western end of the Semien
Semien Mountains
The Semien Mountains lie in northern Ethiopia, north east of Gondar. They are a World Heritage Site and include the Semien Mountains National Park. The mountains consist of plateaux separated by valleys and rising to pinnacles...
. Rivers include the Zarima
Zarima River
Zarima River is a tributary of the Tekezé River. The Wolkayite Irrigation Project is based on a tributary of the Zarima River known as Dukoko River. http://www.ictonline.com/water-ethiopia5.html...
.
Due to its inaccessibility and the lack of the most basic infrastructure, in 1999 the Regional government classified Debarq as one of its 47 drought prone and food insecure woredas. To alleviate this situation, the Amhara Credit and Saving Institution SC, a micro-finance institution, opened an office in Debarq in the late 1990s. On 27 May 2009, the Ethiopian Roads Authority announced work to repair and upgrade the road between Debarq and Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
had begun. The work on the 99 kilometers of road would be done by Sino-Hydro International, a Chinese construction company, with engineering consultancy by a South African company and an Ethiopian firm, Omega Engineers Consulting. The budget for the work is approximately 690 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....
.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national 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 woreda has a total population of 159,193, an increase of 31.83% over the 1994 census, of whom 80,274 are men and 78,919 women; 20,839 or 13.09% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,461.18 square kilometers, Debarq has a population density of 108.95, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 33,822 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.71 persons to a household, and 32,573 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 120,754 in 21,646 households, of whom 60,372 were men and 60,382 women; 14,474 or 11.99% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The largest ethnic group reported in Debarq was the 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...
(99.42%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.58% 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...
was spoken as a first language by 99.46%; the remaining 0.54% spoke all other primary languages reported. 93.78% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 6.16% of the population said they 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...
.