Mirab Welega Zone

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Mirab Welega (or "West Welega") is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone is named after the former province of Welega, whose western part lay in the area Mirab Misraq now occupies.

Mirab Wellega is bordered on the south by the Gambela Region, on the west by Sudan, on the north by the Benishangul-Gumaz Region, on the east for a short space by Misraq Welega, and on the southeast by Illubabor. Its highest point is Mount Welel. Towns and cities in Mirab Welega include Dembidolo, Gimbi, Mendi, and Nejo.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 40,606 tons of coffee were produced in Mirab and Misraq Welega combined in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 35.3% of the Region's output and 17.9% of Ethiopia's total output.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 2,180,718, of whom 1,077,575 were males and 1,103,143 were females; 237,098 or 10.9% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 23,788.13 square kilometers, Mirab Welega has an estimated population density of 91.67 people per square kilometer.^[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 7% of the inhabitants of Mirab Welega have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 38.5 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[3] the average rural household has 1.2 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 0.8 heads of livestock. 20.7 % of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 71% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 29% in secondary schools. 87% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and 71% to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 369.^[5]

[edit] Woredas

• Anfillo
• Ayra Guliso
• Begi
• Boji
• Dale Lalo
• Gawo Dale
• Gimbi
• Haru
• Hawa Welele
• Jarso
• Jimma Gidami
• Lalo Asabi
• Mana Sibu
• Nejo
• Nole Kaba
• Sayo
• Yubdo

[edit] Notes

1. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table D.2
2. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.3
3. ^ "Ethiopia - Second Road Sector Development Program Project", p.3 (World Bank Project Appraisal Document, published 19 May 2003)
4. ^ Comparative national and regional figures comes from another World Bank publication, Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991 (accessed 23 March 2006).
5. ^ World Bank, Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization (accessed 23 March 2006).