Jor (woreda)

Jor is one of the eight woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Administrative Zone 2, Jor is bordered on the south by the Akobo River which separates it from Sudan, on the west and north by the Administrative Zone 3, on the northeast by Abobo, and on the east by Gog; the Alwero River defines part of its northern boundary. Information is lacking on the towns of this woreda.

The terrain of Jor is flat, and the eastern part is swampy; the elevation ranges from 300 to 400 meters above sea level. Important rivers in this woreda include the Gilo. According to the "Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy" published by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA), around 15% of the woreda is forest. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/Atlas%20of%20the%20Ethiopian%20Rural%20Economy.pdf "Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy"] , p. 18] A notable landmark is the Gambela National Park, which occupies the woreda north of the Gilo.

The economy of Jor is predomantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure. ["Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy", pp. 30f]

Based on figures published by the CSA in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 9,181, of whom 4,918 were males and 4,263 were females. With an estimated area of 2,488.13 square kilometers, Jor has an estimated population density of 3.7 people per square kilometer, which is about the same as the Zone average of 3.66. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.3] The ethnic composition of this woreda is predominantly Anuak [ [http://www.who.int/disasters/repo/8684.pdf "Breaking the Cycle of Conflict in Gambella Region"] , p. 2. (PDF file)]

On 11 April 2007, it was reported that over 1000 well-armed members of the Murle crossed from southern Sudan and attacked an Anuak village named Angela in Jor, some 150 kilometers from the capital. The attack claimed the lives of 26 people, left 13 people seriously wounded, 200 houses burnt, and large herds of cattle stolen. This raid was preceded by one on a Nuer village , called Bilimkuon, 95 kilometers from the capital; this attack left seven people dead, and rustled over 3,936 head of cattle. [ [http://act-intl.org/appeals/appeals_2007/RRFPayments/RRF08ETH_EECMY.html "ACT appeals: Cross Border Ethnic Conflict"] (Action by Churches Together International website), accessed 7 July 2007]

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