SUVA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China provided on Tuesday 220,000 Fijian dollars (about 97,218 U.S. dollars) to Fiji to help the island nation in tropical cyclone Harold relief efforts.

According to the Chinese Embassy to Fiji on Tuesday, the sum will be transferred to Fijian Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Facility.

Describing China as a genuine friend of Fiji, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said that China has been watching closely the damage caused by tropical cyclone Harold to each and every Fijian household. This contribution is solely for the disaster relief and rehabilitation as China is also assisting Fiji in the battle against COVID-19.

The ambassador hoped that the affected households will recover from the disaster soon.

Fiji's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) conveyed its sincere gratitude for the kind gesture by the Chinese government and looked forward to future cooperation.

Fiji has declared a state of natural disaster in the areas affected by Harold, which hit the island nation on March 8.

The category four storm caused floods and damages across the island nation with one person killed, 26 others injured as well as more than 2,000 homes destroyed.

For the South Pacific island nations like Fiji, the tropical cyclone season extends between November and April each year and the peak period for cyclone is usually from January to March.

In 2016, tropical cyclone Winston, the most intense tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere on record, battered Fiji, killing 44 people.