Merawi, Ethiopia

Merawi መርዓዊ (Amharic) Mer'Awi
City
Merawi Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 11°24′31″N 37°9′39″E / 11.40861°N 37.16083°E / 11.40861; 37.16083
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Amhara
Woreda	West Gojjam
Towns of West Gojjam	Merawi
Area
• Total	9 km2 (3 sq mi)
Elevation	1,901 m (6,237 ft)
Population (2015(est.).[1])
• Total	35,541
• Density	3,900/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	(+251) 58

Merawi (Amharic: መርዓዊ) is a town with autonomous city administration located 30 kilometers south of Bahir Dar, Amhara Region's capital in north-western Ethiopia, in what was previously Bahir Dar Awraja of Gojjam province. The town also serves as the current seat of Mecha Woreda administration.

Geography

Merawi is situated about 30 kilometers south of Bahir Dar, Amhara Region's capital in north-western Ethiopia and approximately c.525 km from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. Specifically, the town is located c.7km near to the Koga Dam, lying on a latitude and longitude Coordinate of 11°24′31″N 37°9′39″E / 11.40861°N 37.16083°E / 11.40861; 37.16083Coordinates: 11°24′31″N 37°9′39″E / 11.40861°N 37.16083°E / 11.40861; 37.16083 with an elevation of 1901 meters above sea level.

History

Fitawrari Admasu Yimam -Founder of Merawi.

Fitawrari Admasu Yimam decoratd with Nishan (Medal of Honor)

Merawi in its modern form is said to be founded in the early 1940s by Fitawrari Admasu Yimam.,^[2] its first administrator and the brother of the then governor of Gojjam, Dejazmach Abere Yimam.

Demographics

Like any other parts of the country, Merawi has shown a steady increase in its population in the last decade. Based on the latest projections made by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA).,^[1] Merawi estimated to have a total population of 35,541, of whom 18,479 are male and 17,062 are female.

In the 2005 Census conducted by CSA.,^[3] it was documented that the town had a total population of 22,676, of whom 11,432 are men and 11,244 women. The town is also a seat of one of the most populous Woreda in Amhara region, Mecha Woreda, having a total population of 292,250 in 2005 Census (and estimated to 340,289 in 2015.^[1]). The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.91% reporting that as their religion.

The 1994 national census reported a total population of 12,278. The largest ethnic group reported in Merawi was the Amhara (99.91%). Amharic was spoken as a first language by 99.96%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.84% reporting that as their religion, while 1.09% were Muslim.^[4]

Economy

Having been dormant for almost half a century, the town has shown some progress in the last few years. Nonetheless, its economy is still predominantly led by small-scale merchandise trade, services, agriculture, and small-scale cottage industries. In particular, the livelihood of a sizable number of its residents rely on production and marketing of traditional alcoholic drinks called “Tella” and “Arekie”. In fact, the traditional “Arekie” of Merawi is a popular brand alcohol being widely traded in northern western part of Ethiopia such as Bahir Dar Gondar, Humera, and Metema, and is said to be smuggled into the Sudan. Besides, the town is known for its huge timber market; largely eucalyptus tree, indicating its immense potential to host a pulp and paper industry.

The town hosts the head quarters of Koga Integrated Irrigation Dam project which currently serves more than 10,000 smallholder farm households. As the hub of Koga Integrated Irrigation Dam project, the town and its neighboring villages are expected to benefit from marketing surplus production. According to the regional government's strategic plan, the area is expected to be one of the prime food baskets in the region. Aquaculture production and marketing has surged at the artificial Koga Dam. It is expected to host tourists for excursion in near future. The economic activities are facilitated by the banking services provided by the branches of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Buna International Bank.

Education and Health

The town has one of the oldest elementary schools in the region, Merawi elementary school, which was founded in 1948. It also has an additional public elementary school, two comprehensive high schools and one public Technic and Vocational College. A recently established Koga health science college is stationed in the town. The town's proximity to Bahir Dar has helped secure some of the finest teachers in the region, which is evident in the successful achievement of its students in higher studies. Bahir Dar University's extension programs are quite popular in the town.

The town has a few number of private and public health clinics, one public health center and one public hospital.

Transportation

The town enjoys Minibuses almost every next half hour to Bahir Dar. For a safe travel from Addis Ababa to Merawi, one could take Ethiopian Airlines which operates thrice daily flights to Bahir Dar and take 30 minutes drive to Merawi. It is also common to take a relatively cheaper Intercity bus services to Addis Ababa run by private companies such as Selam Bus Line Share Company and Sky Bus Transport System which operate daily from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa as the town lies on the main road connecting the two cities. Besides, the town has almost hourly bus travel services to near by rural towns of Mecha Woreda such as Wetet Abay and Birakat. Although yet a poor quality, the road to Birakat extends to Adet. Cycling is the most common and convenient way of traveling within the town. Lately, Tricycle has also become a popular means of transportation.

Notes