Kuraz

Kuraz is a woreda in the extreme south of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Kuraz is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Ilemi Triangle (claimed by Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan), on the north by Selamago, and on the east by the Omo River which separates it from Hamer Bena. The only town in this woreda is Omorate.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 68,595, of whom 34,892 were males and 33,703 were females; 3,363 or 9.6% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 5,034.53 square kilometers, Kuraz has an estimated population density of 13.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 21.05. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.3] The ethnic composion of this woreda is predominantly Daasanach and Nyangatom.

Kuraz was greatly affected by the August 2006 Omo River floods, which drowned at least 364 people and isolated tens of thousands more. [ [http://home.eircom.net/content/reuters/worldnews/8695698?view=Eircomnet "Ethiopian floods feared to have killed 870" by Tsegaye Tadesse] , Eircom net, 16 August 2006; [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5262928.stm Ethiopia floods cut off thousands] (BBC) 18 August 2006]

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