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SYDNEY: Australia and New Zealand announced emergency aid packages and mobilised aircraft for Fiji on Wednesday after Cyclone Tomas battered the Pacific island nation, prompting thousands to flee.
Both countries released one million dollars in aid (totalling US$1.6 million) and organised aircraft carrying humanitarian supplies to help stricken residents.
Fiji has declared a state of disaster after the cyclone, described as one of the worst in years, barrelled into an eastern group of islands with winds of 175 kilometres an hour.
"There are reports of widespread damage, especially in the northern parts of Fiji," said Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, adding that a military aircraft was due to depart.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said a Hercules plane carrying tarpaulins, water containers and water purification tablets had already landed in Suva.
"Discussions are under way on how New Zealand's contribution can be best used to assist the response in Fiji," he said.
Both Australia and New Zealand have been at odds with Fiji's military regime, which overthrew the elected government in 2006 and expelled envoys from both countries in November.
However, relations have recovered slightly with foreign ministers from all three nations holding rare talks in Australia last month.
- AFP/sc
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