Wajid
Encyclopedia
Wajid is a town and district in the Bakool
region of Somalia
. Wajid town is located approximately 302 kilometres (187.7 mi) north west of the national capital, Mogadishu
, 78 kilometres (48.5 mi) south west of the district capital, Xuddur
, and 69 kilometres (42.9 mi) south east of the Somalia-Ethiopia
border.
In 2004, the population of the district was estimated at 36,995. Wajid district is a rural area with a semi-arid to arid
climate. Many of the district's inhabitants derive their livelihood from pastoral activities, such as raising livestock
, and agriculture
, such as growing sorghum
.
In July 2006, Wajid was occupied by Ethiopian
forces during the Ethiopian military intervention in Somalia. Wajid has been the scene of clashes between various parties to the ongoing conflict in Somalia. In early August 2008, Wajid town was the scene of armed fighting between Al Shabaab
fighters and local armed groups. Al Shabaab is reported to be in control of Wajid town.
Since 2006, Wajid has been severely affected by drought
and the district currently faces a humanitarian crisis
brought about by conflict and a lack of food security
. In August 2008 it was reported that malnutrition
rates in Wajid were among the highest in Somalia.
Bakool
-Overiew:It is bordered by the Ogaden and the Somalian regions of Hiiraan, Bay and Gedo.Bakool, like Gedo and Bay, as well as most parts of the Jubbada Dhexe region, used to be a part of the old Upper Region, which was subdivided in the mid 1980s...
region of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Wajid town is located approximately 302 kilometres (187.7 mi) north west of the national capital, Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, 78 kilometres (48.5 mi) south west of the district capital, Xuddur
Xuddur
Hudur is a town in the southern Bakool region of Somalia. It serves as the provincial capital.-Overview:Hudur is located in southwestern Somalia...
, and 69 kilometres (42.9 mi) south east of the Somalia-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...
border.
In 2004, the population of the district was estimated at 36,995. Wajid district is a rural area with a semi-arid to arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
climate. Many of the district's inhabitants derive their livelihood from pastoral activities, such as raising livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, such as growing sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
.
In July 2006, Wajid was occupied by Ethiopian
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...
forces during the Ethiopian military intervention in Somalia. Wajid has been the scene of clashes between various parties to the ongoing conflict in Somalia. In early August 2008, Wajid town was the scene of armed fighting between Al Shabaab
Al-Shabaab (Somalia)
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen , more commonly known as al-Shabaab , is a terrorist group of militants fighting to overthrow the government of Somalia. As of 2011, the group controls large swathes of the southern parts of Somalia, where it is said to have imposed its own strict form of Sharia law...
fighters and local armed groups. Al Shabaab is reported to be in control of Wajid town.
Since 2006, Wajid has been severely affected by drought
2006 Horn of Africa food crisis
In 2006, an acute shortage of food affected the countries in the Horn of Africa , as well as northeastern Kenya. The United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization estimated on January 6, 2006, that more than 11 million people in these countries may be affected by an impending widespread...
and the district currently faces a humanitarian crisis
Humanitarian crisis
A humanitarian crisis is an event or series of events which represents a critical threat to the health, safety, security or wellbeing of a community or other large group of people, usually over a wide area...
brought about by conflict and a lack of food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
. In August 2008 it was reported that malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
rates in Wajid were among the highest in Somalia.
External links
- 'Bakool region: Waajid district' (map), from the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) Somalia website.
- Photos of Wajid hosted by Panoramio.