Vanuatu's president has called the Category 5 cyclone that made a direct hit on the island at the end of last week a "monster" that has wiped out infrastructure across the nation.

Baldwin Lonsdale said Monday that Cyclone Pam has damaged or destroyed 90% of the buildings in the capital, Port Vila, and forced the nation to start anew. "The humanitarian need is immediate, we need it right now," he said.