Australia is sending aid and assistance to help recovery efforts after a pair of "evil twin" cyclones battered Vanuatu.
The cyclones last week destroyed buildings and homes across multiple provinces.
Initial reports from Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office indicate about 80 per cent of the country's population of approximately 320,000 has been affected, including 125,500 children.
Many still remain without power, clean water or telecommunications.
Cyclone Kevin hit on Friday and early Saturday, bringing winds of up to 230 kilometres per hour, just days after Cyclone Judy smashed the country.
Farmers in some provinces have reported total devastation of crops and food shortages are expected in the coming weeks.
ADF ship on its way
On Sunday, Australia's HMAS Canberra left Sydney for Port Vila with more than 600 Australian Defence Force personnel on board along with humanitarian supplies.
A small Australian rapid assistance team is already in the country and Australian aircraft are conducting aerial surveillance of the worst-affected areas.
Coordinator Barnaby Caddy said the rapid assessment team comprised 12 members skilled in humanitarian and damage assessment, hazardous materials, power, health and infrastructure.
"We will work with the government of Vanuatu to assist them in any way we can, to get a clearer understanding of what the needs are on the ground, in terms of damage assessments and recommendations," Mr Caddy said.
PM laments 'sad state of affairs'
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said the two cyclones had created a "sad state of affairs".
Mr Kalsakau said the priority was re-connecting power and telecommunication services and getting fresh water to affected areas.
On Monday, a national state of emergency was announced for the next six months.
Vanuatu cafe owner Lopez Adams, who is leading a community clean-up effort, told the ABC's Pacific Beat program it had been a difficult few days.
But he said the damage from the cyclones was not as bad as Cyclone Pam in 2015, which devastated Vanuatu.
"Clearing trees and cleaning up around the home is the main issue, and we do have some damage to the sea walls [in Port Vila]," he said.
"Luckily it doesn't seem to be as bad as Cyclone Pam, there's a lot of houses still standing even in the village communities.
"We are now just concentrating on the clean-up. But it's very hot and any crops [in the farming areas] will be dried up in a couple days."
Seasonal workers await updates
Ni-Vanuatu woman Samantha Kalanga works in Stanthorpe, south-east of Brisbane.
Over 2,000 kilometres from her home in Shefa province, in the centre of Vanuatu, she said she and fellow seasonal workers "all feel bad" for their loved ones.
"We had a service here today in remembrance of some of our families who lost their homes and [who have] no food or no clean water to drink," she said.
"The cyclone was too strong, it damaged all the food and gardening like bananas, mango, any fruits, so now we rely on government or the aid donors to support our families back home.
"Some of them haven't spoken to their families since Judy and Kevin passed so we all feel bad."
Ms Kalanga said she was able to contact her parents on Sunday morning, but the connection was poor due to power outages.
"Now we are confused, like 'is the house OK, are our families OK?' but we believe in God, that God saves them," she said.
"We know they are safe and are in good hands because it doesn't matter if the house has gone because you can rebuild the house, you can't rebuild the life if life is taken away by the cyclone."
