VIETNAM. Quang Tri province. Hai Lang district. The central coastal province of Quang Tri is one of the most vulnerable to flooding in the whole of Vietnam, and Hai Lang district is the most vulnerable within the province. Climate change will bring an increased risk of disaster to Vietnam. Oxfam works in Hai Lang district, helping to train villagers to prepare for floods and storms, and how to adapt to changes.
Phan Vy, 85, with a photo of himself that he tries to keep safe from the floods in Phu Kinh village, Hai Hoa commune.
"The water raised so high last time it washed everything away. The clock, my photo and our land-use rights certificate are the only things left."
"The picture was taken at a relative's wedding around 4 years ago. I was sick at the time, so my family feared I might die - they got the picture for my grave. It's very meaningful to me because if I pass away the photo will be used to worship me at the altar [In Vietnam there is a strong belief in worshipping ancestors when they have passed away]. The storm came so suddenly we had no time to store it, so we covered it with nylon and plastic to keep it safe, and hung it up high, just above the flood."
"It's different compared to 20 or 30 years ago, there are more storms, and the floods are higher and more destructive. Only weather forecasters know why it's happening. It's a supernatural process." 2009.