Misraq Hararghe Zone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Misraq Hararghe (or "East Hararghe") is one of the 12 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Misraq Hararge takes its name from the former province of Hararghe.

Misrak Harerge is bordered on the southwest by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the west by Mirab Hararghe, on the north by Dire Dawa and on the north and east by the Somali Region. The Harari Region is an enclave inside this zone. Towns and cities in Misraq Harerge include Alemaya, Babille and Fugnan Bira.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 3,654.00 tons of coffee were produced in Misraq Hararghe in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 3.17% of the Region's output and 1.6% of Ethiopia's total output.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 2,555,635, of whom 1,298,104 were males and 1,257,531 were females; 175,440 or 6.9% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 24,900.21 square kilometers, Misraq Harerghe has an estimated population density of 102.64 people per square kilometer.^[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 3% of the inhabitants of Misraq Harerge have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 39.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[3] the average rural household has 0.5 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)^[4] and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 13% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 53% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 10% in secondary schools. 44% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 367.^[5]