Menstrual Health Equity for Women in Lebanon

2020 was a difficult year across the globe. However, Lebanon faced some of the toughest challenges of any nation. Not only were they affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but the explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020 left hundreds of thousands of people without basic services. With the funds you generously donated to Days for Girls’ (DfG) Syrian Refugee campaign through GlobalGiving, our Lebanon team has helped ease the burdens of women and girls in Lebanese and refugee communities during this time. The following are just some examples of the impact of your generous gift:

• Distributions of 23,115 DfG Kits are ongoing for those impacted by the explosions and Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Our work with Palestinian refugees has been in partnership with Anera and Americares.
• The three DfG Lebanon Social Enterprises and Country Coordinator Khayrieh Al Assaad have been so successful (notwithstanding the pandemic and the explosion) that the three Enterprises have decided to join forces and form one larger, stronger Social Enterprise. Their collaboration focuses on joining hands to have a greater reach in their community. Their new Social Enterprise will have an amplified voice in providing women and girls in the region what they need to retain their dignity, even during difficult crises.
• DfG recently rented a new facility for both our country office as well as the new robust Social Enterprise. In the new facility, our Social Entrepreneurs are working on building up an inventory of Kit components -- using this time of limited social interaction to increase their supplies of Kit components to ensure they can be flexible and agile for upcoming sales, projects, and emergencies.

Days for Girls remains committed to doing all we can to provide for the menstrual needs of women and girls in Lebanon during these challenging times, including in the Syrian and Palestinian refugee communities. Our services would not have been possible without your generous support. Thank you!

On August 4th, two devastating explosions struck the port of Beirut, Lebanon. With help from your donations, Days for Girls was one of the first NGOs to respond with aid to those affected by the tragedy. 

The aftermath of this tragedy – combined with the impacts of COVID-19, civil unrest, and widespread economic turmoil – has significantly hindered the ability of Lebanon’s women and girls to manage their menstruation. An estimated 84,000 menstruators were displaced from their homes following the Beirut explosions, and now struggle to meet basic health needs in temporary shelters or settlements. Meanwhile, the cost of period products is skyrocketing nationwide – untouched by government subsidies designed to make other “essential goods” more accessible amidst widespread inflation and poverty. These conditions are especially difficult for the already stretched refugee communities of Beirut.

In response to this crisis, your donations allowed Days for Girls Lebanon to double down on efforts to reach as many women and girls as possible. Prior to the explosions, this local team focused primarily on bringing menstrual health solutions to Syrian and Palestinian refugee communities. Now, DfG Country Coordinator Khayrieh Al Assaad is leading local menstrual health champions in a coordinated effort to serve both refugee and Lebanese women and girls. 

To date, Days for Girls Lebanon has helped distribute washable face masks to more than 4,200 people in Beirut, and is in the process of distributing over 21,000 DfG menstrual health Kits to women and girls as well (in partnership with local and international organizations). Partnering with local NGOs, our Lebanon team has also distributed 300+ hygiene boxes (shampoo, soap, towels) and 500+ boxes of clean water.

We could not do this important and timely work without your continued support. We know that our Days for Girls supporters are also impacted by global crises, which makes it all the more remarkable that you continue to care for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Thank you!