SYDNEY (Reuters) – A record $3.3 billion in aid flowed to the Pacific islands in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a 33% increase on the previous year, according to a report released by the Lowy Institute think-tank on Monday. The pandemic led to border closures, confronting governments reliant on tourism with economic crisis. It also brought a shift in how aid was delivered, with more loans than grants made, and more direct funding to help deliver critical services. The Lowy Institute’s annual Pacific Aid Map showed Chinese aid to the region dropped to $187 million in 2020, its lowest since …