"More than 2,500 migrants have been plucked from the sea in dozens of search and rescue operations

[pampango]

off the Greek islands over the weekend.



Coast guard officials said 2,492 people were rescued in 70 operations off the eastern islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Agathonissi, Farmakonissi, Kos and Symi.

Separately, it said a coast guard patrol boat rescued another 13 people spotted in the water near the port of Chios by a local boat. One person was recovered unconscious and transported to a hospital.

The rescues are a result of a relentless flow of people heading for the safety of Europe after facing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/hundreds-of-migrants-rescued-off-greek-islands-31492828.html

Many still call the 'migrants' while the UNHCR says that 85-90% of them are legitimate 'refugees'.

While the world's attention has been focused on the refugees' overland route through Serbia and Hungary, the crossing of the Mediterranean continues seemingly unabated.

[MoonRiver]

1. So incredibly tragic. My heart aches for these poor souls.

[malaise]

2. Unbelievable - the mess the West has created

in the Middle East and the treatment of fellow huan beings

[Kurska]

3. Yeah it is totally the west's fault

That an oppressive regime with a power-base of a tiny minority of the population exploded into total war.

No way that would have ever happened without us.

And by no means was it actually mostly Arab Sunni state funneling arms to the rebels, nope all the west.

[pampango]

4. Yeah, Mr. Assad's treatment of his fellow human beings (with the support of Russian weapons)

has set a really high standard that the West has failed to meet.