Dabat

{{short description|Town in Amhara Region, Ethiopia}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Dabat |other_name = |native_name = ዳባት |settlement_type = Town |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Ethiopia#Horn of Africa#Africa | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ethiopia##Location within the Horn of Africa##Location within Africa | pushpin_relief = |coordinates = {{coord|12|59|03|N|37|45|54|E|region:ET|display=inline}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Ethiopia}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Amhara|Region}} | subdivision_type2 = Zone | subdivision_name2 = Semien Gondar | subdivision_type3 = Woreda | subdivision_name3 = Dabat |population_as_of = 2017 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 12,574<ref name=Census2007/> |timezone = EAT |utc_offset = +3 |elevation_footnotes =  <ref name=Dabat/> |elevation_m = 2610 }}

'''Dabat''' (Amharic: ዳባት) is a town in northern Ethiopia, located about 50 kilometers north of Gondar in the Semien Mountains along the Gondar-Debarq highway<ref>Ethiopian Roads Authority, ''Gondar-Debark Road Project: Review of Environmental Impact Assessment'', February 2007, p. 32</ref> Dabat it is in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, and is one of two towns in Dabat woreda.

==History== Little is known about how the town was founded. In the late period of emperor Menelik II's reign the town grew in significance due to its telephone station.<ref name=Aethiopica4>{{cite book |editor-last1=Uhlig |editor-first1=Siegbert |editor-last2=Bausi |editor-first2=Alessandro |editor-last3=Yimam |editor-first3=Baye |date=2003 |title=Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha |work= |publisher=Harrassowitz |location=Wiesbaden |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFhyAAAAMAAJ |access-date= |isbn=9783447052382 |issn= |oclc= |archive-date=2023-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308201741/https://books.google.com/books?id=oFhyAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 1930, slave trade was banned after a proclamation by its governor, dejazmach Ayalew Birru was published.<ref name=Dabat/>

=== War and fascist occupation 1935-1941 === Reportedly Dabat had a landing field for air travel, and was utilized before and during the conflict with fascist Italy. On 4 December 1935, 12 Italian planes dropped over 150 bombs and struck Ras Imru Haile Selassie's army near the landing field. After an initial battlefield victory, dejazmach Ayalew was ordered to send Italian prisoners under his custody to Addis Abeba by air. The fascists bombed Dabat every two days for a period during the conflict. Dejazmach Ayalew's fortified residence and the town's church (Gebriel) were completely destroyed and burnt by bombs.<ref name=Dabat>{{cite web |url=https://nai.uu.se/download/18.39fca04516faedec8b248c7b/1580827647330/ORTDA05.pdf |title=Dabat |author= |date=2005 |website=The Nordic Africa Institute |publisher=The Nordic Africa Institute |access-date=2022-09-03 |quote= |archive-date=2022-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903141411/https://nai.uu.se/download/18.39fca04516faedec8b248c7b/1580827647330/ORTDA05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 April 1936, Dabat fell under fascist occupation. The Italians established a large farm, a granary, a small food processing plant, and an agricultural research centre in Dabat. They also opened a post office on 1 December (or 29 November) 1937.<ref name=Dabat/><ref name=Aethiopica4/>

In April 1941, the East African campaign was in full swing, when Major Basil Ringrose took Dabat, and effectively cut off the large Italian garrison at Uolchefit from Gondar. During the final confrontation with the Italians in October–November 1941 the allies had a base hospital in Dabat.<ref name=Dabat/>

=== Post liberation to 2000 === Dabat was the capital of the Wogera awraja between 1950 and 1980. By 1967 there were telephones for the governor, police and public health center.<ref name=Dabat/><ref name=Aethiopica4/>

On 21 April 1977, Ethiopian Democratic Union claimed they had captured 300 heavily armed Ethiopian Government troops of the Flame Division near Dabat.<ref name=Dabat/>

On 1 January 1989, the TPLF launched an offensive against the 603rd Corps Army of the Derg on 1st of, and having destroyed government forces stationed at Dabat they controlled the town of Dabat on 3 January.<ref name=Dabat/>

=== 21st century === In the national elections of 15 May 2005 the Dabat constituency had 50 polling stations and 54,743 registered voters of whom 75% cast their votes. Leading party was the Coalition for Unity and Democracy with 16,690 votes with candidate Major Bayeh Ayalew Reda, defeating the ruling EPRDF with 13,745 votes. The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces party received 1,111 votes. The remaining 9,587 votes are not explained.<ref name=Dabat/>

== Geography == Dabat consist of three settlements on three high points at an elevation of 2610 meters. The surrounding area is very fertile and known for its wheat and barley production. The road up north continues to climb up to about 2,865 metres, and when travelling southwards past Dabat, the road begins the final descent to Gondar. On a clear day you can see the blue waters of Lake Tana from this point.<ref name=Dabat/><ref name=Aethiopica4/>

== Culture == Dabat is famous for its fine breed of horses, and during the Meskel holiday, the town attracts visitors from the surrounding areas to see the horse race.<ref name=Dabat/>

The town has a church dedicated to Saint George.<ref name=Aethiopica4/> == Health care == There is a state run health center in Dabat.<ref>Staff (11 May 2004) [http://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/ET_media_PR_nutrition.pdf "UNICEF Funds Medical University Training for Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307011309/http://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/ET_media_PR_nutrition.pdf |date=2009-03-07 }} United Nations Children's Fund, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; accessed 12 September 2010</ref>

== Demographics == According to the 2007 national census, this town has a total population of 12,574 of whom 5,662 are men and 6,912 are women.<ref name=Census2007>[http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=266&format=raw&Itemid=521 Census 2007 Tables] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114004005/http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=266&format=raw&Itemid=521 |date=November 14, 2010 }}, Table 2.2 Population of Towns by Sex: 2007. Central Statistical Agency website</ref> The 1994 census reported Dabat had a total population of 8,782 of whom 3,737 were men and 5,045 were women.<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck03%5Ck03_partI.pdf ''1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region'', Vol. 1, part 1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115052151/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck03%5Ck03_partI.pdf |date=November 15, 2010 }}, Table 2.1,  accessed 12 September 2010</ref>

== Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==References== {{reflist|30em|refs=}}

Category:Cities and towns in Ethiopia Category:Populated places in the Amhara Region Category:North Gondar Zone