SYDNEY – Australia is to send humanitarian aid to Fiji due to a tropical cyclone, causing widespread destruction in the Pacific, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said on Thursday.

Cyclone Harold, a Category Five hurricane, killed several island countries in the Pacific last week, killing dozens people, flooding towns and leaving many homeless.

In Fiji, thousands of people live without electricity, aid agencies say, and many need immediate assistance.

Australia will send shelter kits and tents, kitchen utensils, water containers and personal hygiene items to Fiji and extend assistance to the Fiji Red Cross and other agencies to help.

Payne used the term Fijian for the family, saying, “The way Fijian personnel supported Australian communities during our recent bushes, Australia stands with the Fiji family.”

Australia’s aid pledge comes as Canberra seeks to curb the growing Chinese presence in the Pacific.

Australia has long enjoyed an almost uncontrolled impact in the Pacific, but its position has been challenged in recent years by China as it extends aid to a heavily populated region that provides vast areas of the resource-rich ocean Controls.

China denies that it is seeking influence in the Pacific, saying its aid is to help with economic development.

Officials at Vanuatu Airport said an Australian aircraft was hit by the cyclone. Officials at Vanuatu Airport said the Chinese returned home on Sunday as aircraft with medical equipment.

An Australian defense spokesman said the aircraft was unable to land safely.