Despite their losses, people in Tonga are coming together to rebuild their lives after Cyclone Gita battered the country earlier this week.
Around the capital Nuku'alofa, people are cleaning up their homes and businesses and making repairs.
At the Queen Salote College, members of the local community gathered to do what they could to help classes resume as soon as possible.
Among them was Mele Latai Aliki, who said: "We share our love to each other so we come here to clean up Queen Salote College."
Like many buildings in the capital, it was badly damaged when Cyclone Gita tore through Tonga's main island Tongatapu on Monday night.
Out the front of the college, women and girls cleared the driveway of mud, branches and leaves.
Out the back, men and boys pulled apart a large section of roof that was blown off the college's classrooms.
Community leader Ian Tuihalangingie said people had cleaned up their own damaged houses and now wanted to lend a hand elsewhere.
"We have finished our houses, our chapel area and we know this is the most-needed place to do something," he said.
Many of those working at the college are still living at a nearby Mormon church, where they sheltered during the cyclone.
For many people the local church was the safest place to go, but now they cannot leave because of the damage to their homes.
Across Tongatapu around 1,400 houses were either damaged or destroyed and several thousand people are still in evacuation centres.
Hinea Leka is one of around 100 people still living at the church.
"We have all the food and water," she said.
"The only thing we need is our shelters."
The Australian Government is lending a helping hand and late yesterday a second planeload of humanitarian assistance touched down in Tongatapu.
Deputy Prime Minister Semisa Sika was at the airport for its arrival.
"I can't believe that the aid is coming, is landing on our island immediately after the cyclone hit," he said.
Besides shelter, another big issue is the lack of electricity.
Power lines are down across the island and power has only been restored to a few pockets of the capital.
Despite the resilience of the Tongan people, and even with outside help, it is going to be many months before life returns to normal.
