Southern Philippines after Typhoon Washi's Devastation (PHOTOS)

The Philippines fell victim to nature's wrath this week, as Typhoon Washi killed some 1,000 people and left thousands homeless.

President Benigno Aquino has declared a state of "national calamity" after flashfloods and landslides. Survivors of the storm paid tribute to the deceased, as they were laid to rest at a public cemetery.

Even as the Philippines government has vowed to prevent such calamities in the future and has been doing good work in relocating the affected public, the United Nations agencies have stepped up relief efforts to help the victims get back to normal life. The World Food Organisation is trying to help the people by providing food and other assistance.

Photos of the destruction follow.

A girl searches for salvageable items after flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi (Sendong) in Macasandig town, Cagayan De Oro city, southern Philippines December 17, 2011.

Damaged vehicles washed away by flash floods brought forth by Typhoon Washi lie in a ditch in Balulang village in Cagayan de Oro, in southern Philippines December 17, 2011.

Residents rest in an evacuation centre after their houses were washed away by flashfloods caused by typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines, December 17, 2011.

A boy fetches water from a broken pipe among destroyed houses along a road in a village hit by flashfloods caused by typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines, December 17, 2011.

A general view shows a village hit by flashfloods caused by typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro in southern Philippines December 17, 2011.

Residents gather at a makeshift shelter after their houses were swept away by flashfloods caused by typhoon Washi in Balulang village in Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines, December 17, 2011.

A woman inspects a submerged vehicle in a village hit by flashfloods brought by Typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro, southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

Typhoon Washi victims seek shelter in an evauation center in Cagayan de Oro in southern Philippines December 18, 2011. Rescuers searched for more than 100 people still missing in the southern Philippines on Sunday after flash floods and landslides swept houses into rivers and out to sea.

Residents walk past a car on top of another vehicle in a subdivision hit by flashfloods brought by Typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro in southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

Typhoon Washi victims who were rendered homeless after their houses were swept away by flashfloods rest in an evacuation center in Cagayan de Oro in southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

Residents inspect their damaged shanties after flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi (Sendong) hit Iligan city, southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

An aerial view shows shanties damaged by flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi (Sendong) in Cagayan De Oro city, southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

A general view of a village hit by flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi in Cagayan de Oro in the southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

A resident carries items he salvaged from his damaged shanty after flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi (Sendong) hit Iligan city, southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

Flash flood victims eat a meal in a makeshift shelter along a road in Iligan city in southern Philippines December 19, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday rushed to deliver body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials considered digging mass graves for hundreds killed in weekend flash floods.

Typhoon Washi evacuees pray during a mass inside a church turned into an evacuation center in Iligan city, southern Philippines December 18, 2011.

Flash flood victims queue for relief goods outside an evacuation center in Iligan city in southern Philippines December 19, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday rushed to deliver body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials considered digging mass graves for hundreds killed in weekend flash floods.

A resident cleans a television swept away by flash floods caused by Typhoon Washi in a subdivision in Iligan city, southern Philippines December 19, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday rushed to deliver body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials considered digging mass graves for hundreds killed in weekend flash floods.

Aerial view shows buses covered with mud following Typhoon Washi, in Mindanao December 19, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday rushed to deliver body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials considered digging mass graves for hundreds killed in weekend flash floods.

An aerial view shows damage caused by floods following Typhoon Washi in Iligan City, in the southern island of Mindanao December 19, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday rushed to deliver body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials considered digging mass graves for hundreds killed in weekend flash floods.

Philippine Navy soldiers load coffins, to be transported to Cagayan De Oro city, onto a navy ship which docked in Manila December 20, 2011. Disaster agencies on Monday delivered body bags, food, water, and medicine to crowded evacuation centres in the southern Philippines as officials ordered the digging of graves to prevent disease after hundreds died from flash floods.

Relatives grieve during a mass burial for Typhoon Washi victims in Iligan city, southern Philippines December 20, 2011. Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared on Tuesday a state of national calamity after flash floods and land slides caused by a typhoon swept through a southern region late last week, killing about 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.