Somali Region
Somali is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of that same name. Formerly known as Region 5, the capital of Somali is Jijiga. Other major towns and cities include K'ebri Dehar, Geladi, Werder, Bircot, Erer Gota, Denan and K'elafo. The region borders Kenya to the south-west, the Ethopian regions of Oromia, Afar and Dire Dawa to the west, Djibouti to the north and Somalia/Somaliland to the north, east and south. It covers 279,252 km2 in the east of the country and its population (as of 1999) is 3,602,000.
The region has a very high Somali population, and it has been claimed by Somalia in the past as part of the idea of a Greater Somalia. In the 1970s, Somalia invaded Ethiopia to support Somali rebels in the area, particularly during the Ogaden War, but was defeated.
In late April 2005, heavy rains generated widespread flooding throughout Somali Region as well as Somalia, and caused the Shabele River to burst its banks. As of May 2005, the flooding in Somali Region alone has caused over 100 confirmed deaths and widespread property damage affecting over 100,000 persons. The floods have also destroyed shelters housing 25,000 Somali refugees in Kenya.
External links
- Map of Somali Region at UN-OCHA
- "Ethiopia: Rains pound Somali region as death toll rises" - UN IRIN
- "Floods plague Horn of Africa, wash away refugee shelters" - UN News
| Subdivisions of Ethiopia | Missing image Ethiopia_flag_large.png Flag of Ethiopia | |
|---|---|---|
| Regions | ||
| Afar | Amhara | Benishangul-Gumaz | Gambela | Harari | Oromia | Somali | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region | Tigray | ||
| Chartered cities | ||
| Addis Ababa | Dire Dawa | ||
| Provinces prior to 1995 | ||
| Arsi | Bale | Gamu-Gofa | Gojjam | Begemder | Hararghe | Illubabor | Kaffa | Shoa | Sidamo | Tigray | Welega | Wollo | ||