Weather-related disasters in 2005 have led to donations from Islanders totalling more than $2 million.

According to a report by the United National Environment Programme (UNEP), 2005 saw the highest number of hurricanes or tropical storms since records began in 1850 ? showing a growing trend which experts have linked with climate change.

The report quoted preliminary estimates presented by Munich Re Foundation.

This year?s trend shows that major tropical storms in the Atlantic and Pacific have increased in duration and intensity by 50 percent since the 1970s, the report said.

As for the victims of these natural disasters, which included not only hurricanes, but also earthquakes, droughts in West Africa and floods, charities in Bermuda did not shy away from raising money.

One of the first to respond was the Bermuda Red Cross which raised a total of $1,964,718.08 to date

Director Ann Spencer-Arscott said of this $100,000 was donated by the Bermuda Government towards the Asian earthquake/tsunami appeal.

In a breakdown of money raised ? the tsunami/quake raised a record $1,514,748.94, appeals for Africa in General which raised $10,200, the Guyanese floods $2,769.14, the West Africa famine/drought effort $70,000, Hurricane Katrina $247,000 and the more recent Pakistan earthquake has raised $120,000 to date.

?Wow!? was how Ms Spencer-Arscott described the donations ? a record for the Bermuda Red Cross. She said further funds were raised yesterday with the West Africa Crisis (Niger) Appeal drive, organised by the Bermuda Nursing Association in conjunction with the Bermuda Red Cross.

Residents were encouraged to donate $1 towards feeding the starving children of Niger.

Various schools, businesses, organisations and churches across the Island also raised money for the various appeals in 2005, but because the money was sent directly to the affected areas, there is no clear record of a total amount.

The Salvation Army in Bermuda raised $280,080 towards three of the year?s greatest natural disasters.

For Hurricane Katrina, $42,813 was received, $235,917 was raised for the tsunami while the Pakistan earthquake relief raised $1,350.