Idaga Hamus (also called Edaga Hamus and Sewha Sa'isi'e) is a town in the Saesi Tsaedaemba woreda of Misraqawi Zone of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It is located 97 kilometers north of Mekelle on "National Road 1" (now Ethiopian Highway 2), between Freweyni and Adigrat.
Idaga Hamus
Edaga Hamus (Thursday Market) Sewha Sa'isi'e | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  Idaga Hamus Location within Ethiopia .svg) Idaga Hamus Location within the Horn of Africa  Idaga Hamus Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 14°11′N 39°34′E / 14.183°N 39.567°E | |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Region |  Tigray |
| Zone | Misraqawi Zone |
| Woreda | Saesi Tsaedaemba |
| Elevation | 2,700 m (8,900 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
• Total | 8,474 |
Geology and soils
editThe following geological formations are present in this locality:[1]
The main geomorphic units, with corresponding soil types are:[2]
- Enticho Sandstone plateau
- Associated soil types
- shallow sandy soils with an indurated layer which prevents rooting and drainage (Petric Plinthosol)
- moderately deep, (light) brown, loamy to loamy sandy soil (Chromic Cambisol, Arenic Luvisol, Arenic Lixisol)
- Inclusions
- Associated soil types
- Idaga Hamus highlands
- Associated soil types
- Inclusions
Monuments
editA number of rock-hewn churches have been reported near this town which include: Debre Zakarios Giyorgis and Cherqos, a collapsed one at Dengelat, Guwahigot Yesus and Yohannes.[3] The contemporary church of Maryam Techot in this town is located on the top of a stepped Aksumite platform about 2 meters high and with dressed-stone corner blocks. A monolithic pillar and other carved fragments in the area may have been salvaged from the Aksumite structure which originally stood on this platform.[4]
History
editRecords at the Nordic Africa Institute website provide details of the primary school in 1968.[3]
Idaga Hamus sheltered a significant number of refugees during the Eritrean-Ethiopian War of 1998-2000.[5]
During the 2020-2021 Tigray War, attacks were carried out on Idaga Hamus by the joint Ethiopian and Eritrean armies. On 18 December 2020, an EEPA report stated that 37 civilians were killed by Eritrean troops in Mariam Dengelat. This follows further reports of Ethiopian ENDF soldiers shooting at unarmed civilians.[6] On 19 December 2020, killings occurred in Idaga Hamus. Eritrean soldiers killed approximately 150 civilians, including a priest and women seeking refuge in a church, located 4 km to the west of Marieam Dengelat. The town and some rural villages (Maimegelta, Dengelat, Tsa'a and Hangoda) are under the control of Eritrean forces. The military is slaughtering the animals. People are starving to death.[7]
Demographics
editBased on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Idaga Hamus has an estimated total population of 8,474 of whom 3,962 are men and 4,512 are women.[8] The 1994 census reported it had a total population of 4,883 of whom 2,110 were males and 2,773 were females. Together with Freweyni, it is one larger settlements in Saesi Tsaedaemba woreda.
Notes
edit- ^ Sembroni, A.; Molin, P.; Dramis, F. (2019). Regional geology of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District. SpringerNature. ISBN 978-3-030-04954-6.
- ^ Nyssen, Jan; Tielens, Sander; Gebreyohannes, Tesfamichael; Araya, Tigist; Teka, Kassa; Van De Wauw, Johan; Degeyndt, Karen; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amare, Kassa; Haile, Mitiku; Zenebe, Amanuel; Munro, Neil; Walraevens, Kristine; Kindeya Gebrehiwot; Poesen, Jean; Frankl, Amaury; Tsegay, Alemtsehay; Deckers, Jozef (2019). "Understanding spatial patterns of soils for sustainable agriculture in northern Ethiopia's tropical mountains". PLOS ONE. 14 (10): e0224041. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1424041N. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224041. PMC 6804989. PMID 31639144.
- ^ a b "Local History in Ethiopia" Archived 2011-05-28 at the Wayback Machine (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 6 May 2008)
- ^ David W. Phillipson, Ancient Churches of Ethiopia (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009), p. 47
- ^ Evacuee report during Eritrean-Ethiopian War
- ^ Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 30 - 19 December Europe External Programme with Africa
- ^ Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 31 - 20 December Europe External Programme with Africa
- ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics Archived 2008-07-31 at the Wayback Machine, Table B.4