Kebri Dahar Explained

Official Name:Kabridahar
Other Name:Qabridaharre
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Ethiopia
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Ethiopia
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Ethiopia
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Ogaden
Subdivision Type2:Zone
Subdivision Name2:Korahey
Subdivision Name3:Qorraxeey
Government Type:City Administration
Leader Title:Moyor
Leader Name:Eng Abdirisak Awil
Leader Title2:City Manager
Leader Name2:Eng Ali Mahamed Barud
Area Land Km2:48.4313
Area Total Sq Mi:109
Population As Of:2021 estimation
Population Blank1 Title:population
Population Blank1:363,000
Timezone:EAT
Utc Offset:+3
Coordinates:6.7333°N 60°W
Elevation M:1609
Postal Code Type:zip code
Postal Code:3060
Area Code:+251

Kebri Dehar (Somali: Qabridahare) (Amharic: ቀብሪ ደሓር) is a city in the eastern part of Ethiopia known as the Ogaden Region. Located in the Korahe Zone of the Ogaden Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 6.7333°N 60°W and an elevation of 1609 meters above sea level. Kebri Dehar is served by kabridahar international Airport (ICAO code HAKD, IATA: ABK).

There is a public institutions in the city of Kabridahar, like University of kabridahar, kabridahar Health-science college, kabridahar teacher Training college, kabridahar polytechnic college, hospitals and Ethiopian pharmacuatical agency.

History

The earliest mention of Kebri Dehar is in 1931, when it was described as "a soldier's camp" that suffered from malaria; although the settlement was 500 meters above the river, the scrub had not been cleared and provided the mosquitoes sufficient cover to reach their victims.[1] According to Margery Perham, Kebri Dehar was first established as a garrison fort sometime prior to the Italo-Abyssinian War.[2]

A Hospital for the town was under construction in 1958, when Emperor Haile Selassie inspected it during a tour of the Ogaden. In 1966 a road was built connecting Kebri Dehar and the new town of Gode.[1] The Ethiopian Road Authority announced a construction project to connect Kebri Dehar with neighbouring towns. One road, to include 113.5 kilometres of paved road and five bridges will connect Kebri Dehar with Shekosh, while a second, which will include the creation of 95 kilometres of paved road and construction of six large and medium bridges, will connect the town to Danan.[3]

During the Ogaden War in 1977, Kebri Dehar was defended by the Ethiopian Ninth Brigade against the Somali Army before abandoning it in disarray after being defeated by the Somali army who captured the town thereafter.[4] It was recaptured by the Ethiopian Third Paracommando Brigade on 8 March 1978.[5]

Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Kebri Dahar has an estimated total population of 100,191 of whom 51,327 are men and 48,864 are women.[6] The 1997 census reported this town had a total population of 24,263 of whom 12,768 were men and 11,495 women. The two largest ethnic groups reported in this town were the Somali (99%), and the (1%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.3% of the population.[7] It is the largest settlement in Kebri Dehar woreda.

Notes and References

  1. Kebri Dehar also means the "land of castles" because it was known for its unique buildings and entrepreneurial leadership that connected the eastern through western merchandises."Local History in Ethiopia" The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 21 November 2007)
  2. Perham, The Government of Ethiopia, second edition (London: Faber and Faber, 1969), p. 338
  3. http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/Nov/30Nov07/40048.htm "ERA building asphalt roads with 600mln birr in Somali State"
  4. Gebru Tareke, "The Ethiopia-Somalia War of 1977 Revisited ", International Journal of African Historical Studies, 2000 (33, #3), pp. 635ff at p. 644. (accessed 13 May 2009)
  5. Gebru Tareke, "The Ethiopia-Somalia War", p. 660.
  6. http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics
  7. http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Somali Region, Vol. 1