Translators without Borders

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Donate Now
  • Home
  • About us
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
    • Ambassadors
    • Careers
    • Testimonials
  • Our Work
    • Crisis Response
      • European refugee response
      • Global COVID-19 response
      • Mozambique
      • Northeast Nigeria
      • Rohingya refugee response
      • The Democratic Republic of Congo
    • Advocacy
    • Gamayun Language Initiative
    • Language mapping
    • Development & Preparedness
    • Kató Translation Platform
    • TWB Chatbots
    • TWB Glossaries
    • Impact
    • Resources
  • Donate
    • Donate to Translators without Borders
    • Become a Sponsor
    • Become a Fundraiser
    • Our Sponsors
  • Volunteer
    • Apply as a translator
    • Our Volunteers
  • Partner with Us
    • TWB Partner Program
    • Apply to be a Partner
  • News & Blog
    • Blog
    • Press

Mozambique Cyclone Idai – Crisis Language Map

Cyclone Idai’s intense winds and heavy rains have been causing death and destruction in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe since 6 March 2019.

As of 18 March, 2019, an estimated 1.5 million people have been affected across the four countries. Hundreds of thousands are in need of critical emergency communication in a language and format they understand.

Over 40 languages are spoken in Mozambique alone. Only half the population can speak Portuguese, the official language. Portuguese comprehension rates are particularly low in rural areas and among women. Other languages spoken in the most affected areas include Sena, Lomwe, Xitshwa, and Ndau.

People in the affected districts of Malawi mainly speak Chewa and Lomwe, and Yao in the northern part of the affected area.

In the hardest hit districts in Zimbabwe, Chimanimani and Chipinge, Ndau and Shona are the main languages spoken and understood.

To alleviate suffering and contribute to rapid recovery, it is important to get life-saving information to communities quickly, in the languages of those affected. To ensure understanding among less educated individuals and second-language speakers, communication should be short, simple, and clearly illustrated. Important information should be provided in plain language, absent of jargon, and with pictures when possible.

To learn more about Translators without Borders’ work in crisis response, and to get support for your program, email us: [email protected].

News

TWB and KoBo Inc develop speech recognition technology to capture voices of speakers of marginalized languages

September 1, 2020

TWB’s Access to Knowledge Awards celebrate people who share knowledge across languages

July 28, 2020

TWB partners with tech leaders to develop COVID-19 language technology for 37 languages

July 6, 2020

Subscribe to the TWB Newsletter

Contact Us

[email protected]

How to contact us

Report misconduct

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Create / Manage your TWB account

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Donate

More

Annual report

Financials

Careers

Sitemap

Copyright © 2021 Translators without Borders

image001  Privacy Policy

This site uses cookies. Consult our Cookie Policy.