Ghinda
Ghinda ( Tigrinya ጊንዳዕ , Arabic جندع) is a small agricultural town in Eritrea in the Semienawi Kayih Bahri region .
Geographic Facts
Ghinda is 888 m above sea level (train station), only about 20 km as the crow flies from Asmara . On the connecting road Massaua-Asmara and the railway line Massaua-Biscia , the two cities are separated by almost 50 km. The reason for this is that from here the steep ascent to the plateau begins, which is about 1500 m higher than Ghinda.
The city is located in a mountain valley that opens to the east, in which the warm, humid air coming from the Red Sea is caught and rains down on the mountains behind on its ascent, mainly in two rainy periods per year. Ghinda has a much higher rainfall than the surrounding area . The climate is mild.
Around 15,000 people live in Ghinda today, including 2,000 refugees who have settled here.
history
The area was settled in pre-colonial times by Saho , who already farmed here. Today's city emerged from an Italian street post in the colonial period from 1889/90 . The railroad reached Ghinda, driven from Massaua , in 1904. As a result, hotels and restaurants were built. In addition, the colonial administration in the vicinity of the city granted concessions for large farms. This pushed the cultivation of citrus fruits forward. During this time, the first elementary school and a mission station of the Roman Catholic Church were built. During the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935-1936) a hospital was built here, which was initially continued to be used by the British after the victory over the Italians in World War II , but was then dismantled as a reparation payment against Italy. Only in 1960 was here by an American , Protestant hospital opened mission again. However, this had to stop its work in the Eritrean War of Independence because of the fighting for the city . In 1994 it was able to reopen.
During the Eritrean War of Independence, the city had been fiercely fought since 1977, and most of the residents fled. In 1978 the city was strongly fortified by the Ethiopian side and expanded as a garrison . In 1985 the liberation front managed to overrun the city, but could not hold it. The Ethiopian army occupied the city until the end of the fighting.
economy
In agriculture, vegetables and fruits are grown, especially citrus trees . These cultures were introduced here by Carlo Cavanna , who was also instrumental in building the railway. There is also a factory that works granite and marble .
traffic
Ghinda is an important junction on the country's most important transport link, the Massaua-Asmara road. The Massaua – Biscia railway line has only a minor tourist significance today. Scheduled trains no longer run here.
Culture
The place has several mosques and is a center of the Djiberti , the Tigrinya - Muslims .
literature
- Jean-Bernard Carillet: Ethiopia & Eritrea . 2009.
- Dan Connell & Tom Killion: Historical Dictionary of Eritrea . 2nd edition Lanham 2011, keyword: "Ghinda" .
Web links
Coordinates: 15 ° 26 '48.6 " N , 39 ° 5' 49.6" E