Dirashe special woreda
Encyclopedia
Dirashe is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia
. Because Dirashe is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area
. It is named for the Dirashe people, whose homelands lie in the eastern part of this woreda.
, Dirashe is bordered on the south by Konso special woreda
, on the west by the Weito River
which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone
, on the north by the Gamo Gofa Zone
, on the northeast by Lake Chamo
, and on the east by Amaro special woreda
. The administrative center of Dirashe is Gidole
.
According to a 2004 report, Dirashe had 57 kilometers of all-weather roads and 44 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 66 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. High points in Dirashe include Mount Gardolla (2545 meters).
In April 2002, several persons were killed and numerous houses were burned during fighting over a land dispute between the Dirashe and the Zayse
. Local ruling party officials had incited the violence between the previously peaceful groups. By the end of the following year, the responsible local officials, who included the former woreda administrator, were found guilty of inciting the violence between the previously peaceful groups.
Human Rights Watch
interviewed farmers in 25 June 2009, who claimed that they had been dispossessed of their lands and forced out of their homes for supporting opposition parties.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 142,758, of whom 70,111 are men and 72,647 women. With an area of 1,487.38 square kilometers, Dirashe has a population density of 95.98; 13,184 or 9.24% are urban inhabitants. A total of 26,838 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 5.32 persons to a household, and 26,102 housing units.
In the 1994 Census, Dirashe had a population of 89,900 in 17,181 households, of whom 45,617 were men and 49,038 women; 8,167 or 9.08% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Dirashe (58.44%), the Gawwada (19.75%), the Mossiya (10.06%), the Amhara
(2.99%), and the Konso
(2.34%); all other ethnic groups made up 6.48% of the population. Dirashe
was spoken as a first language by 55.08% of the inhabitants, 19.64% spoke Gawwada
, 7.26% spoke Bussa
, 5.41% spoke Oromiffa
, and 4.97% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 7.64% spoke all other primary languages reported. 51.63% of the population said they practiced traditional religions, 35.46% were Protestants
, and 10.38% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Concerning education
, 17.49% of the population were considered literate; 9.69% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 3.2% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 3.48% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 74% of the urban houses and 19% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 64% of the urban and 12% of the total 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 Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) 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...
. Because Dirashe is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area
Autonomous area
An autonomous area or autonomous entity is an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or freedom from an external authority. Typically it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the country or populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often...
. It is named for the Dirashe people, whose homelands lie in the eastern part of this woreda.
Overview
Located in the Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
, Dirashe is bordered on the south by Konso special woreda
Konso special woreda
Konso is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Konso is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This woreda is named after the Konso...
, on the west by the Weito River
Weito River
The Weito River is a river in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia...
which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo Zone
Debub Omo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . Debub Omo is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by the Ilemi Triangle, on the west by Bench Maji, on the northwest by Keficho Shekicho, on the north by Semien Omo, on the northeast by the...
, on the north by the Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Gamo and Gofa peoples, whose homelands lie in this Zone...
, on the northeast by Lake Chamo
Lake Chamo
Lake Chamo is a lake in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of southern Ethiopia. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at an elevation of 1,110 meters. It is just to the south of Lake Abaya and the city of Arba Minch, and east of the Guge Mountains.The lake's northern end...
, and on the east by Amaro special woreda
Amaro special woreda
Amaro is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Amaro is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
. The administrative center of Dirashe is Gidole
Gidole
Gidole is a town in southern Ethiopia, and is the administrative center of the Dirashe special woreda. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation ranging from 2045 to 2650 meters above sea level...
.
According to a 2004 report, Dirashe had 57 kilometers of all-weather roads and 44 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 66 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. High points in Dirashe include Mount Gardolla (2545 meters).
History
Dirashe special woreda was created following the founding of the SNNPR. It has never been part of a Zone.In April 2002, several persons were killed and numerous houses were burned during fighting over a land dispute between the Dirashe and the Zayse
Zay people
The Zay are a small ethnic group of about 5,000 people in Ethiopia. They are also known as the Zeway or Laki. They live on the islands of Lake Zway, south of Addis Ababa, and engage mainly in fishing. The Zay language belongs to the Southern branch of the Ethiopian Semitic language family and is...
. Local ruling party officials had incited the violence between the previously peaceful groups. By the end of the following year, the responsible local officials, who included the former woreda administrator, were found guilty of inciting the violence between the previously peaceful groups.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
interviewed farmers in 25 June 2009, who claimed that they had been dispossessed of their lands and forced out of their homes for supporting opposition parties.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 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 142,758, of whom 70,111 are men and 72,647 women. With an area of 1,487.38 square kilometers, Dirashe has a population density of 95.98; 13,184 or 9.24% are urban inhabitants. A total of 26,838 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 5.32 persons to a household, and 26,102 housing units.
In the 1994 Census, Dirashe had a population of 89,900 in 17,181 households, of whom 45,617 were men and 49,038 women; 8,167 or 9.08% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Dirashe (58.44%), the Gawwada (19.75%), the Mossiya (10.06%), 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...
(2.99%), and the Konso
Konso people
The Konso or Konzo people are an ethnic group in south-central Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, they numbered 250,430 of whom 10,470 or 4.18% are urban dwellers. Over 87% live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region....
(2.34%); all other ethnic groups made up 6.48% of the population. Dirashe
Dirasha language
Dirasha is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. It is spoken in Ethiopia in the Omo Region, in the hills west of Lake Chamo, around Gidole town. A number of speakers also use Oromo or Komso...
was spoken as a first language by 55.08% of the inhabitants, 19.64% spoke Gawwada
Gawwada language
Gawwada is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in southern Ethiopia. Dialects include Dihina, Gergere, Gobeze, Gollango, Gorose, Harso.-External links:* Ethnologue information on...
, 7.26% spoke Bussa
Bussa language
Bussa is an East Cushitic language spoken in the Dirashe special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region located in southern Ethiopia...
, 5.41% spoke 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...
, and 4.97% spoke 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...
; the remaining 7.64% spoke all other primary languages reported. 51.63% of the population said they practiced traditional religions, 35.46% were Protestants
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...
, and 10.38% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. 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...
, 17.49% of the population were considered literate; 9.69% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 3.2% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 3.48% 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...
, about 74% of the urban houses and 19% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 64% of the urban and 12% of the total had toilet facilities.