Red Cross says almost 73 million across globe were uprooted from homes in 2011

GENEVA — The Red Cross says 72.67 million people — about one of every 100 around the world — were forced to leave their homes last year by conflicts, disasters or development.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says about 43 million were uprooted by conflict and violence, 15 million were made homeless by natural or technological disasters and 15 million were displaced by development during 2011.

But the IFRC reported Tuesday the figures represent a drop from 101.2 million such people in 2010, 74.85 million in 2009 and 92.30 million in 2008.

The report says the figures strongly correlate to “mega-disasters” such as the 2008 earthquake in China, the 2009 floods and cyclones in India and the Pakistan floods and the Haiti earthquake in 2010.