Dembel (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Dembel is one of the 47 woreda
s in the Somali Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Shinile Zone
, Dembel is bordered on the southwest by the Oromia Region
, on the west by Dire Dawa
, on the northwest by Shinile
, on the northeast by Ayesha
, and on the east and south by the Jijiga Zone
. Towns in Dembel include Arebi, Biyo Behay, Dembel, Dure, Harmukale, and Smekeb.
Inhabitants of this woreda have engaged in crop farming since 1965; however, there has been a great decline in crop production from 1989 to 2001. That was primarily caused by clan conflicts and aggravated by severe droughts. Between 35-45% of the inhabitants are pastoralists, while 55-65% raise cereals (mostly sorghum
) as well as raise livestock.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 90,739, of whom 43,935 are men and 46,804 are women; 14,549 or 16.0% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 17.6%. Information is not available on the area of Dembel, so its population density cannot be calculated. This woreda is primarily inhabited by the Gadabuursi
group of the Somali
Dir
clan.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 72,168, of whom 37,814 were men and 34,354 were women; 9,756 or 13.52% were urban inhabitants. The largest ethnic group reported in Dembel was the Somali people
(99.96%).
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 Shinile Zone
Shinile Zone
Shinile is one of nine Zones of the Ethiopian Somali Region. Shinile is named for its largest town, Shinile.Located at the northwestern point of the Somali Region, and stretching across the savanna north of the Amhar mountains, Shinile is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by...
, Dembel is bordered on the southwest by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia . This chartered city is divided administratively into two woredas, the city proper and the non-urban woreda of Gurgura....
, on the northwest by Shinile
Shinile (woreda)
Shinile is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Shinile Zone, Shinile is bordered on the south by Dire Dawa, on the west by Erer, on the north and east by Ayesha, and on the southeast by Dembel. Towns in Shinile include Adigale, Harewa, Milo, and Shinile; villages...
, on the northeast by Ayesha
Ayesha (woreda)
Ayesha is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The northernmost woreda of the Shinile Zone, Ayesha is bordered on the south by Dembel, on the southwest by Shinile, on the west by Erer, on the north by Djibouti, on the east by Somalia, and on the southeast by the Jijiga Zone...
, and on the east and south 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...
. Towns in Dembel include Arebi, Biyo Behay, Dembel, Dure, Harmukale, and Smekeb.
Inhabitants of this woreda have engaged in crop farming since 1965; however, there has been a great decline in crop production from 1989 to 2001. That was primarily caused by clan conflicts and aggravated by severe droughts. Between 35-45% of the inhabitants are pastoralists, while 55-65% raise cereals (mostly 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...
) as well as raise livestock.
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 90,739, of whom 43,935 are men and 46,804 are women; 14,549 or 16.0% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 17.6%. Information is not available on the area of Dembel, so its population density cannot be calculated. This woreda is primarily inhabited by the Gadabuursi
Gadabuursi
The Gadabuursi , also known as Samaroon, is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir.Most Gadabuursi members are descendants of Sheikh Samaroon...
group of 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...
Dir
Dir (clan)
The Dir , or Theyr bin Abdalla as mentioned in the book "Futuh al-Habasha", is a Somali clan. Its members mostly live in northwestern Somalia and Djibouti, in addition to southern and central Somalia and the Ogaden....
clan.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 72,168, of whom 37,814 were men and 34,354 were women; 9,756 or 13.52% were urban inhabitants. The largest ethnic group reported in Dembel was the Somali people
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...
(99.96%).