In recent years, shifting weather patterns have meant that many more homes across Pakistan are under threat from flooding. But Oxfam's disaster risk reduction projects have been helping poor communities to prepare for the worst.

In vulnerable villages like Rajanpur, in Pakistan's Punjab province, Oxfam has been working with local communities to help ensure that everyone is more aware of what they can do in the event of extreme weather. This includes providing support to help families raise their homes above flood level – an action that has had profound effect on Irshad: "We would not have saved ourselves if the house were not on a raised platform ... due to such high floods we would have been washed away with the water if it was not due to this raised area. This saved our lives in fact."

In the words of Oxfam's Country Director Neva Khan: "People were incredibly scared and fearful for their homes, fields, animals and their lives. But despite the imminent threat, local people came together and prepared as much as they possibly could. And Oxfam was there supporting local groups to gear up and get ready for the waters."