By Cecile Abi Tayeh
(RIEAS Research Associate)
The article is edited by Antonia Dimou (RIEAS Senior Advisor)
Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 13th September 2015
Millions of people have fled their homes because of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. The biggest crisis is centered on Syria, where the number of those fleeing to other countries has currently exceeded four million. Many who are able seek refuge in Europe. This often involves a perilous journey across the Mediterranean, a journey that has cost the lives of thousands of men, women and children. One of the deadliest events was the loss of around 800 people according to the UN in the Mediterranean Sea coming from Libya to Italy. Another event happened in August 2015 where bodies of 49 migrants were found in the hold of a fishing boat - most of them died because of smoke inhalation. This has raised the total number of human losses in 2015 to more than 2,300 dead migrants in the Mediterranean Sea...Read more