Berehna Aleltu
Encyclopedia
Berehna Aleltu is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone
, Berehna Aleltu is bordered on
the south by the Misraq Shewa Zone
, on the southwest by the city of Addis Ababa
, on the west by Mulona Sululta
, on the north by Wuchalena Jido
, on the northeast by Kembibit
, and on the east by the Amhara Region
.
Berehna Aleltu is divided into 45 rural and 5 urban kebele
s. The administrative center of the woreda is Sendafa
; other towns include Beke, Fiche Gelila, and Mikawa. The landscape of this woreda has been described as undulating mountains covered by a scattered settlement pattern, which make development efforts more difficult.
This woreda was selected as one of the three areas for Agri-Service Ethiopia to implement an Integrated Food Security Program. This Program operates in 12 of the woreda's kebeles, with the goal of improving agricultural practices
, developing new rural water sources
, conserving use of local natural resources, training community health workers
and building new schools
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 170,360, of whom 85,341 are men and 85,019 are women; 17,362 or 10.19% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.5%. With an estimated area of 1,325.79 square kilometers, Berehna Aleltu has an estimated population density of 128.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 143.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 121,081, of whom 60,680 were men and 60,401 women; 9,718 or 8.03% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Berehna Aleltu were the Oromo
(83.15%), the Amhara
(14.04%), and the Werji
(1.79%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.02% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 84.62%, and 14.98% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.4% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 96.84% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 2.81% of the population said they were Moslem
.
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 Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
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 Semien Shewa Zone
Semien Shewa Zone (Oromia)
Semien Shewa is one of the 12 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Semien Shewa takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa. Semien Shewa is bordered on the south by Addis Ababa, on the southwest by Mirab Shewa, on the north by the Amhara Region, and on the southeast by Misraq...
, Berehna Aleltu is bordered on
the south by the Misraq Shewa Zone
Misraq Shewa Zone
Misraq Shewa is one of the 12 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa. Misraq Shewa is located in the middle of Oromia, connecting the western regions to the eastern ones...
, on the southwest by the city of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, on the west by Mulona Sululta
Mulona Sululta
Mulona Sululta is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Mulona Sululta is bordered on the south by the city of Addis Ababa, on the west by the Muger River which separates it from the Mirab Shewa Zone, on the north by Yaya Gulelena Debre Liban, on...
, on the north by Wuchalena Jido
Wuchalena Jido
Wuchalena Jido is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Wuchalena Jido is bordered on the south by Berehna Aleltu, on the west by Mulona Sululta, on the northwest by Yaya Gulelena Debre Liban, on the northeast by the Amhara Region, on the east by...
, on the northeast by Kembibit
Kembibit
Kembibit is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Kembibit is bordered on the south by Berehna Aleltu, on the west by Wuchalena Jido, on the north by Abichuna Gne'a, and on the east by the Amhara Region...
, and on the east by the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
.
Berehna Aleltu is divided into 45 rural and 5 urban kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s. The administrative center of the woreda is Sendafa
Sendafa
Sendafa is a town in central Ethiopia and the administrative center of the Berehna Aleltu woreda or district. Its name is taken from the Amharic name for a kind of thick, jointed grass or reed which grows in swampy areas. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, Sendafa has a latitude...
; other towns include Beke, Fiche Gelila, and Mikawa. The landscape of this woreda has been described as undulating mountains covered by a scattered settlement pattern, which make development efforts more difficult.
This woreda was selected as one of the three areas for Agri-Service Ethiopia to implement an Integrated Food Security Program. This Program operates in 12 of the woreda's kebeles, with the goal of improving agricultural practices
Agriculture in Ethiopia
Agriculture in Ethiopia is the foundation of the country's economy, accounting for half of gross domestic product , 83.9% of exports, and 80% of total employment....
, developing new rural water sources
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...
, conserving use of local natural resources, training community health workers
Health in Ethiopia
Metrics of health in Ethiopia are among the world's worst. According to the U.S. government, Ethiopia's health care system is wholly inadequate, even after recent improvements. The Ethiopian government has launched a campaign to improve the health care system....
and building new schools
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...
.
Demographics
Based on figures published 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...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 170,360, of whom 85,341 are men and 85,019 are women; 17,362 or 10.19% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 9.5%. With an estimated area of 1,325.79 square kilometers, Berehna Aleltu has an estimated population density of 128.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 143.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 121,081, of whom 60,680 were men and 60,401 women; 9,718 or 8.03% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Berehna Aleltu were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(83.15%), 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...
(14.04%), and the Werji
Werji people
Werji is an ethnic group living in Ethiopia numbering 20,480 according to the 1994 Ethiopian census . They are located primarily in Southwestern Ethiopia and may have originally spoken an East Gurage language, but today primarily speak Oromo...
(1.79%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.02% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 84.62%, and 14.98% 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 0.4% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 96.84% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 2.81% of the population said they were Moslem
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.