The last weeks of the summer of 2015 have been filled with dramatic events affecting the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Death and suffering accompanies the unstoppable flow of people into Europe across the Mediterranean Sea and through the Balkans, driven in part by cruel murders perpetrated by terrorists of the so called Islamic State or Daesh in Syria, Iraq and other countries. In Syria years of civil war have irreparably damaged the regime of President Assad, have destroyed much of the country, and have displaced almost half its population.
As a result of these bloody events there has been a worsening of the situation in the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon, reeling before the wave of refugees arriving in the country. The untenable situation in the area has contributed to increase the flow of people entering Turkey and Greece in their intent on travelling through the Balkans to reach the richer EU countries. They are joined by other human beings coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries, writes General Federico Yaniz.