Sightline with Tim Marshall: Swarms of locusts descend on East Africa

Tim Marshall explores the devastating effect locusts have had on crops in the Horn of Africa

There's a saying in English: 'It never rains, but it pours,' meaning misfortunes come in rapid succession.

Today in East Africa that means locusts, heavy rains, and again locusts - they're back.

Earlier this year came an infestation, the likes of which East Africa hadn't seen in decades. Vast swarms, the size of cities, containing billions of locusts, ate their way across the region and beyond.

In this week's episode of Sightline, Tim Marshall explores the devastating effect the locusts have had on the Horn of Africa and looks at where they could head next.

A local resident shakes a bottle filled with pebbles at a swarm of desert locusts in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

Desert locusts cover branches on a tree in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

A dead desert locust lies on the ground following a pesticide spray by authorities the previous day in Kalanga village, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

Corn plants stand damaged by desert locusts in Kalanga village, Kitui County, Keny. Bloomberg

A desert locust sits on a corn stalk in a field in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

A stalk of grain sorghum stands damaged by desert locusts in Kalanga village, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

A desert locust sits on a corn leaf in a field in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

A local resident carries a stick to chase away desert locusts in a field in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

A local resident tries to swot away a swarm of desert locusts in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg

Swarms of desert locusts take flight in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya. Bloomberg