Carnival Corp. and brands donate $200,000 to Nepal relief

Carnival Corp. is working through Mercy Corps, the Disaster Emergency Committee and Save the Children to support teams distributing emergency supplies and aiding rebuilding efforts, targeting the most affected families in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.

Carnival's support will help the three organizations provide access to shelter supplies, food, water and hygiene supplies, support the operations of the Nepal Red Cross and, ultimately, assist families in rebuilding their lives after initial life-saving needs are met.

Also, Carnival and its brands are assisting their employees who were directly affected by this tragedy.

P&O Cruises UK and Cunard Line are providing a significant portion of the donation from the companies' offices in the UK. Likewise, Carnival Cruise Line, Seabourn and Holland America Line have combined to donate the majority of the funds in North America in coordination with Carnival Foundation, the company's philanthropic organization.

'Nepal is home to a great number of employees in our industry, so we were not only incredibly saddened by the destruction of the earthquake, but we also felt a responsibility to provide any support that we could,' said Arnold Donald, president and ceo of Carnival Corp. 'As we learn more about the damage and the needs in Nepal, we will explore more ways to support ongoing relief efforts in any way we can.'

Mercy Corps, a global aid agency, has responded to almost every major global disaster in the last 20 years, including Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013 which included support from many in the cruise industry.

The Disaster Emergency Committee, an umbrella organization for 13 humanitarian aid agencies, unites aid efforts in times of disaster such as flood, earthquake or famine in poorer countries around the world.

Save the Children is an international organization that promotes children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in 120 developing countries.