This crisis is one of persistent drought and endemic malnutrition, as aid agencies such as Save the Children and Oxfam can testify.
Ault, T. R., Cole, J. E., Overpeck, J. T., Pederson, G. T. & Meko, D. M. Assessing the risk of persistent drought using climate model simulations and paleoclimate data.
They are burning bigger today than they were 30 years ago, a result of persistent drought and overgrown vegetation, which have led to longer and hotter fire seasons.
The lake at the time of the second image is at 7% of its total capacity as a result of many years of persistent drought conditions.
In 2013, after months of persistent drought, our main water catchment -- Potworks Dam -- dried up.
Although poverty levels have decreased and food security and nutrition have improved substantially, households have not fully recovered from five years of persistent drought.
The situation becomes more obscure when the source of the "temporary" insecurity becomes persistent and difficult to anticipate: for example, as a result of persistent drought or civil unrest.
Seager, R., Kushnir, Y., Herweijer, C., Naik, N. & Velez, J. Modeling of tropical forcing of persistent droughts and pluvials over western North America: 1856 2000.
Years of persistent droughts and the recent downturn of the Zimbabwean economy have adversely affected food availability in many homes in Zimbabwe.
