Also located in this zone is the former mining settlement of Dallol, which set the record for the hottest inhabited place on Earth, with an average temperature of 34 °C.

The ARDUF conducted sporadic attacks on government military forces and officials and competed for control of the salt trade.

In response, the military closed markets at Berhale, Garamoyti, Gaharta, ‘Ala, Mergis and Dande, and schools in at least three woredas.

These new arrivals claimed to be fleeing the Eritrean government's recent enforcement of its National Service programme and a parallel agenda of disarmament.

[3] Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 350,111, of whom 195,404 are men and 154,707 women.