Support & Resources for Women in Lebanon

Many have asked us to refer them to women-focused and women-led initiatives in Lebanon for support. Here’s our list – we’re adding to it every day!

First – some context. Lebanon wasn’t doing very well before the explosion. Since October 2019, the country has undergone massive upheaval – starting with public protests and government restructure, then an economic crisis followed by COVID-19. This has proven to be a toxic combination for the country. The explosion on 4 August has now turned an already serious situation into a humanitarian disaster.

Before the blast, the Lebanese Lira had lost approximately 80% of its value. On the black market, rates of exchange have risen to 8,000 LL for 1 USD – before COVID and the financial crisis, rates were locked at 1,500 LL = 1 USD. Unemployment rates before the explosion reached nearly 32% for Lebanese, and are more for non-Lebanese migrant and refugee workers. COVID-19 cases are on the rise, resulting in a two-week enforced lockdown period that began shortly before the blast.  For approximately 9 necessary commodities, prices have jumped a minimum of 20% (for some, it’s almost 60%).

Given this dire situation, The Arab Institute for Women has put together a list of women/LGBT/queer/refugee/migrant-led and -focused initiatives, researchers, and journalists in Beirut for you to follow, fund, and support. 

Our advocacy is focused on working with partners to fill gaps in humanitarian aid. Priorities for women include (but are not limited to): 

• Economic support packages for women-headed households (e.g. temporary foodstuffs, towels, soap, toilet paper)
• Supplies for mothers, especially new mothers: baby formula, baby food, diapers, baby wipes, baby shampoo, and baby clothes
• Hygiene kits and menstrual products

Online Resources

• Fifty-fifty Lb (@fiftyfiftylb) – raising awareness about gender-focused initiatives
• Volunteer Beirut (@volunteerbeirut) – connecting volunteers to organizations in need – started by three LAU students: Dania Mahmoud (@daniamahmoud), Noura Bifadel (@nourabifadel) and Ghida Beydoun (@ghida_beydoun)
• Beirut Resource Guide
• Beirut Blast Recovery Directory – an entire Google Drive completely full of resources

Journalists

• Dalal Mawad (@dalalmawad)
• Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) – Washington correspondent, The National UAE
• Hwaida Saad (@hwaida_saad) – NYT
• Lizzie Porter (@lcmporter) – Senior Correspondent @IraqOilReport
• Abby Sewell (@sewella) – Formerly Daily Star, LA Times
• Sarah Dadouch (@SarahDadouch) – Beirut-based, Washington Post
• Tamara Qiblawi (@tamaraqiblawi) – Senior Digital Mideast producer at CNN International
• Zahraa Dirany (@zahraa_dirany) – Media Coordinator RDFL, 25×25 Young Leaders SheDecides
• Diana Moukalled (@dianamoukalled) – co-founder of Daraj Media
• Zahra Hankir (@ZahraHankir) – independent journalist
• Luna Sawfan (@LunaSawfan) – independent journalist
• Aya Iskandari (@Aya_Isk) – the National UAE
• Houshig Kaymakamian (@houshigk) – Daily Star
• Farah El Beaini (@farahelbeaini) – Annahar
• Zeina Karam (@zkaram) – AP Lebanon and Syria
• Sarah el Deeb (@seldeeb) – AP Lebanon and Syria
• Leila Molana-Allen (@Leila_MA) – France24
• Ghada Al Sharif (@GhadaSharif) – Daily Star Lebanon
• Lynn Zovighian (@lynnzovighian) – Annahar
• Ghada Al Sharif (@GhadaAlSharif)

Researchers

• Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) – Lebanon and Bahrain Researcher HRW
• Maha Yahya Director of Carnegie Middle East (@mahamyahya)
• Cilina Nasser (Human Rights researcher – @CilinaNasser)
• Kim Ghattas (@KimGhattas) – non-resident Fellow at Carnegie Endowment
• Abir Ghattas (AbirGhattas) – Human Rights Watch
• Tala Harb (@TalaHarb_) – RCCA at Amnesty International
• Léa Yammine (@lea_yam) – Deputy Director Lebanon Support
• Marie-Noëlle AbiYaghi (@mnabiyaghi) – Director of Lebanon Support
• Mariam Younes (@mayouns1) – Regional Director Rosa-Luxembourg-Stiftung Beirut Office, Research Fellow Lebanon Support

Activists

• Céline Semaan (@celinecelines)
• Mary Khodari (@marykhodari)
• Hayat Mirshad (@HayatMirshad) – cofounder FeMale & Editor in Chief of Sharika Walaken
• Joumana Haddad (@JHaddadOfficial)
• Rasha Younes (@Rasha_Younes) – LGBT Rights Researcher at HRW
• Diala Haidar (@DialaHaidar) – Lebanon Campaigner at Amnesty International and Co-founder of Uprising of Women
• Jumanah Zabaneh (@j_zabaneh) – UN Women
• Uprising of Women (@UprisingOfWomen)
• Maya Mikdashi (@mayamikdashi) – Professor at Rutgers
• Manar Zeitar – human rights lawyer
• Rita Chemaly (@ritachemaly) – human rights activist
• Carmen Geha (@carmengeha) – Professor at AUB
• Alia Ibrahim (@aliaibrahim) – co-founder Daraj Media
• Nay El Rahi (@nayelrahi) – feminist activist

Feminist Organizations

• The A Project
• Migrant Community Center (MCC)
• KAFA (Enough!) – women’s shelters and domestic violence hotline
• ABAAD (Gender Dimensions) – women’s shelters and domestic violence hotline
• Egna Legna Besidet
• Fe-Male
• RDFL – Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering

Funding Campaigns

• Solidarity with “Women Know MENA” – raising money for women journalists in Lebanon affected by the blast
• Relief and Repatriation for Domestic Workers in Beirut, Lebanon
• Nori Flayhan (artist handle on Instagram: “nouriflayhan”) – all artwork proceeds go directly to a list of organizations working in Beirut
• Mavia Bakery/Sadalsuud Foundation “Baking and Building Bridges in Lebanon”
• Egna Legna Besidet (@EgnaLegna) – collecting money for migrant domestic workers affected by the blast “Food and Medicine for Kafala Victims in Lebanon”
• “Disaster Relief for Lebanese Transgender Community” – Siwar Ibrahim
• Dawrati Lebanon (Dawrati.lb) “Menstrual Products for Blast Victims”
• “Shaabi Masoolti” [My people, My responsibility] – a GoFundMe campaign established by a Lebanese expat (Jana Lamy) in Canada, sending donations directly to organizations on the ground in Lebanon
• Amel Association (led by Dr. Zeina Mohanna) – “Emergency Relief Fund for Lebanon”
• Tia Chami (@tiachami) – raising money to buy menstrual products, contact directly: +961 70428333 – all money raised and products collected will be given to Dawrati Lebanon for distribution
• “Disaster Relief for Beirut Explosion” distributed by Impact Lebanon
• Anya Kneez (@anyakneezplz) – raising money directly for LGBTQ community in Lebanon in collaboration with Haven, a safe space for LGBTQ – http://venmo.com/LebaneseQueerFund; international donors use PayPal: kabouzaki@gmail.com
• The Women Collective (@thewomencollectivelebanon) – “Double Your Donation”
• Jawnah Apothecary (@jawnahapothecary) – collecting donations to make dignity kits (including menstrual products)
• “Volunteer Beirut) (@volunteerbeirut) – led by three LAU students (women) to help organize volunteers, and to give information about urgent needs in Beirut
• Haven for Artists (@havenforartists) – Safe spaces for LGBT+ community, single mothers, and migrant workers in Beirut
• https://bit.ly/BeirutBlastDirectory – amazing list of resources available for survivors of the blast
• Atfalouna (@atfalouna) – raising money and goods for children (formula and diapers)
• “We only have each other” – safe housing for LGBT+, migrant women, and single mothers led by activist Abir Ghattas
• Grassroot Funds for Vulnerable LGBTQ in Beirut: mutual aid community-based initiative for immediate food aid and shelter for LGBTQ community.
• Disaster Relief for Lebanese Transgender Community: mutual aid community-based initiative centered on immediate food aid and shelter for Lebanese Non-binary and Trans Community.
• Jeyetik: Venmo their US-based partner @Kooyrigs subject “4Lebanon” to donate a $5 period pack (consisting of pads, sanitary wipes, painkillers, and a sweet snack) to menstruating women.
• Ma3kon (@ma3kon): developed by a group of Lebanese students, they are working to create a network of organizations and donors focusing on supplying menstrual products, diapers and baby milk for those affected by the blast
• Iftar in a Box (@iftar_in_a_box ) collecting supplies for young children and women