A donation of at least $1 million to support relief efforts in the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan is being pledged by Carnival Corporation.
The parent company of lines such as P&O Cruises and Cunard is teaming up with baskestball team Miami Heat, owned by Carnival chairman Micky Arison (pictured), to provide the funding.
Each of Carnival’s 10 cruise brands and its employees have also pledged to support ongoing relief efforts through local fundraising and other aid initiatives.
Carnival joins other cruise lines which employ Filipino crew in supporting relief efforts.
Arison said: “The typhoon in the Philippines has caused massive destruction, and is having a tragic impact on people and families, including those members of our extended Carnival family who reside in the region.
“We are in the process of evaluating a variety of worthy organisations that are doing fantastic work in the Philippines.
“In addition to providing financial support for relief efforts, our collective thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been impacted.”
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, a Filipino American, added: “We would like to extend our condolences to the victims in the Philippines, an area I hold close to my heart and have visited four times in the last five years.
“It is vitally important that we do everything possible to help those impacted by this tragedy.”
The pledge came as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reported that the provinces of Samar and Leyte were particularly badly damaged by the super typhoon.
There are food and water shortages in both provinces, along with deteriorating health conditions, poor communications and an ongoing relief effort, the FCO said.
Philippine president Benigno Aquino is reported as saying the numbers killed is more likely to be up to 2,500 rather tan the 10,000 originally estimated.
However, The United Nations says more than 11 million people are believed to have been affected and some 673,000 displaced.