Kuraz
Encyclopedia
Kuraz is a woreda
in the extreme south of Ethiopia
. Part of the Debub Omo Zone
of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Kuraz is bordered on the south by Kenya
, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle
(claimed by Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan
), on the north by Selamago
, and on the east by the Omo River
which separates it from Hamer Bena
. The administrative center of this woreda is Omorate
.
Kuraz was greatly affected by the August 2006 Omo River floods, which drowned at least 364 people and isolated tens of thousands more. A team led by Regional President Shiferaw Shigute visited the affected sites on 16 August to assess the impact of the flooding and identify the immediate humanitarian needs.
Located in this woreda is the Fejej archeological site, which a team led by Henry de Lumley, Professor Emeritus at the National Museum of Natural History, and Yonas Beyene, Head of the Archaeological and Anthropological Department of the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport found rich with remains of animals and artifacts perfectly intact and particularly well conserved, which were dated as being 1.96 million years old. These excavations were conducted between 1992 and 2002, and the findings published in 2004.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 68,595, of whom 34,892 were males and 33,703 were females; 3,363 or 9.6% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 5,034.53 square kilometers, Kuraz has an estimated population density of 13.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.05.
In the 1994 national census Hamer Bena had a population of 48,165, of whom 24,489 were men and 23,676 women; 1,857 or 3.86% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Daasanach (66.44%), the Nyangatom
(29.38%), and the Amhara
(1.31%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.87% of the population. Daasanach
was spoken as a first language by 66.42% of the inhabitants, 29.36% spoke Nyangatom
, and 2.46% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 1.87% spoke all other primary languages reported.
Concerning education
, 3.77% of the population were considered literate. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 64% of the urban and 6% 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...
in the extreme south 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 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...
of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Kuraz is bordered on the south by Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle
Ilemi Triangle
The Ilemi Triangle is an area of disputed land in East Africa. Arbitrarily defined, it measures between 10,320 and 14,000 square kilometers . Named after Anuak chief Ilemi Akwon, the territory is claimed by South Sudan and Kenya and borders Ethiopia...
(claimed by Ethiopia, Kenya and 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...
), on the north by Selamago
Selamago
Selamago is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Selamago is bordered on the south by Kuraz, on the west and north by the Omo River which separates it from the Bench Maji and the Keficho Shekicho Zones and the...
, and on the east by the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
which separates it from Hamer Bena
Hamer Bena
Hamer Bena is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Hamer Bena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the southwest by Kuraz, on the northwest by the Usno River which separates it from Selamago, on the north by Bako...
. The administrative center of this woreda is Omorate
Omorate
Omorate is a town in southern Ethiopia near the Kenyan border. Located in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, this village has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 395 meters above sea level...
.
Overview
This woreda is located in part of the semi-arid lowlands which support agro-pastoral groups who are at various stages of transition from nomadic to sedentary livelihoods. High points in this woreda include Mount Nakua (912 meters), which is part of the Korath range. According to a 2004 report, Kuraz had 55 kilometers of all-weather roads and 48 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 20 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.Kuraz was greatly affected by the August 2006 Omo River floods, which drowned at least 364 people and isolated tens of thousands more. A team led by Regional President Shiferaw Shigute visited the affected sites on 16 August to assess the impact of the flooding and identify the immediate humanitarian needs.
Located in this woreda is the Fejej archeological site, which a team led by Henry de Lumley, Professor Emeritus at the National Museum of Natural History, and Yonas Beyene, Head of the Archaeological and Anthropological Department of the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport found rich with remains of animals and artifacts perfectly intact and particularly well conserved, which were dated as being 1.96 million years old. These excavations were conducted between 1992 and 2002, and the findings published in 2004.
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 68,595, of whom 34,892 were males and 33,703 were females; 3,363 or 9.6% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 5,034.53 square kilometers, Kuraz has an estimated population density of 13.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.05.
In the 1994 national census Hamer Bena had a population of 48,165, of whom 24,489 were men and 23,676 women; 1,857 or 3.86% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Daasanach (66.44%), the Nyangatom
Nyangatom people
The Nyangatom are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southwestern Ethiopia and southeastern South Sudan...
(29.38%), and 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...
(1.31%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.87% of the population. Daasanach
Daasanach language
Daasanach is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken by the Daasanach in Ethiopia and Kenya whose homeland is along the Lower Omo River and on the shores of Lake Turkana.-Further reading:*...
was spoken as a first language by 66.42% of the inhabitants, 29.36% spoke Nyangatom
Nyangatom language
Nyangatom is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken in Ethiopia by the Nyangatom people. It is an oral language only, having no working orthography at present...
, and 2.46% 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 1.87% spoke all other primary languages reported.
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...
, 3.77% of the population were considered literate. 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 64% of the urban and 6% of the total had toilet facilities.