The death toll in Fiji from Cyclone Winston stands at 42 with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warning his
devastated nation it faces a long and difficult recovery.
"Almost no part of our nation has been left unscarred," Mr Bainimarama said in a national address on Wednesday.
He said Winston, believed to be the most powerful storm ever to hit Fiji, had left "a terrible trail of destruction in its wake" and created a need that is great and urgent.
"Right now the priority is on restoring essential services and supplying our people with sufficient food, water and shelter," he said.
Aid agencies, including the United Nations, are working to provide desperately needed aid to Fijians after Cyclone Winston devastated the area.
A statement from the United Nations said there were almost 14,000 people sheltering in 274 evacuation centres around Fiji after the storm hit on Saturday and Sunday.
"At least 364 dwellings have been destroyed, and 65 schools have been damaged or destroyed," the statement said.
"Schools have been closed for the week and the government has indicated that restoring education is its top priority for the response over the coming days."
The UN and other agencies are coordinating with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to provide relief to islands like Koro where whole villages have been wiped out.
Equipment including water containers, tarpaulins, generators, chainsaws and tool kits have already been distributed from Nausori airport in the capital city of Suva.
Australia has committed to a $5 million assistance package which will include military helicopters to assist with aerial surveillance and air transport of relief supplies for 1500 families.
The UN Children's Fund is also assisting with the provision of child friendly spaces in evacuation centres while the World Health Organisation has received a request for 36 000 water purifying tablets.
Defence Minister (ms) Marise Payne says HMAS Canberra is expected to arrive in a week to deliver aid.
"The government of Fiji requested the deployment of HMAS Canberra to assist in the relief operation and the ADF is taking quite detailed preparations to deploy HMAS Canberra and she is anticipated to arrive on or around the first of March. This will be the first deployment of HMAS Canberra in support of a humanitarian disaster overseas."
