The International Organisation for Migration says the full extent of damage done by typhoon Maysak in Federated States of Micronesia is still not clear as assessments continue to be carried out.
The category five supertyphoon swept through Yap and Chuuk states last week, killing five people, destroying homes and crops and contaminating water supplies.
Damage caused by Typhoon Maysak in Ulithi, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia Photo: Brad Holland / FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management
The IOM's chief of mission in FSM, Stuart Simpson, says most of the damage is on outlying islands which are very difficult to assess and ship relief supplies to.
"It's an enormous area so when you're talking about trying to get information the logistics of trying to get around everywhere does take... I mean, Yap state, for instance, is 100,000 square miles with 18 populated islands in that area. So you can sort of envisage the logistics and the timing constraints of trying to get around all those islands."
Stuart Simpson says the government's priority has been to get food, water and shelter to affected areas.