United Nations Radio

Natural disasters were on the rise last year, leaving tens of millions of people destitute and in need of aid.

That according to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), which said there were 360 natural disasters in 2005, compared to 305 the year before. UN disaster chief Salvano Briceno says impacts are increasing, vulnerability is increasing, and as a result the potential for greater disaster is growing.

"The fact that there are less victims is not indicative of the full impact that natural hazards are having and that natural hazards are becoming very rapidly an increasing threat to development. That is the key point."

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction says there were nearly 92,000 disaster-related deaths last year. According to UN figures, the economic cost was $159 billion.