A Simple Breakdown
By Ellie Blake
Despite being an economic success story in the 90s, the “Switzerland of the middle east”, Lebanon is now experiencing one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in centuries. After years of gradual escalation, the Lebanese financial crash became fully apparent in late 2019, and today half of its population are living below the poverty line. When the Lebanon civil war came to an end in 1990, tourism and large donations began to help the country to rebuild. However, an array of issues, including vast financial mismanagement with remittances and foreign investments, soon followed. This came to a head in 2019 when mass protests began to erupt throughout the country, as the public felt disillusioned and let down by the political elite. With the country already in turmoil and heading for complete financial disaster, the port of Beirut explosion (responsible for killing at least 217 people, injuring over 7,000, displacing over 300,000 and causing billions worth of damage) seriously worsened the problem. Then came the global COVID-19 pandemic, crippling an already overwhelmed health-care system.
The reality now
Since 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost 90% of its value, demolishing the purchasing power of everyday people. Hyperinflation and the current paralysed banking system means people are either unable to withdraw savings or forced to do so at the current pitiful rates. Food prices have soared, fuel shortages are now crippling and deficiencies in vital medicine have struck the country hard. Alice, who runs @thefreeshoplebanon (an important charity where families can access clothes and essential items at no charge) spoke candidly about the alarming situation. An increasing amount of people, she described, have been forced to leave their job as the price of transportation has soared past their existing salary. Under this crisis scope, access to basic menstrual products like sanitary towels has become a luxury a lot of women simply can’t afford. They are left to ‘choose between food and free bleeding’, with a pack of sanitary towels costing up to £17 each at current exchange rates. Right now, 76% of menstruating women in Lebanon are struggling to afford the basic menstrual products they need. With girls forced to stay home from school, women with no choice but to not attend work, and scraps of disposable items being used in replacement, this is a dire and painful situation. Menstrual hygiene is a human right and yet sanitary products did not make the cut on the Lebanese ‘essential items’ import, leaving women to face the consequences of period poverty alone.
Whilst vast structural reform in Lebanon is a necessity, waiting for the political elite to initiate successful wide-scale reforms leaves ordinary people (especially women) waiting in the chaotic and undignified balance. Supporting local institutions and charities to help provide the most basic, yet essential, items and create space for change is crucial right now.
How can you help?
By following, donating and supporting organisations who are already doing important work:
@thepachaproject & @wingwomanlebanon – successfully providing sustainable, reusable pads to women in Lebanon. Helping to provide employment and reduce period poverty globally.
@thefreeshoplebanon - a free shop in Lebanon where local families can use tokens in exchange for clothes, pads and other necessary items.
If you can’t afford to donate, supporting and raising awareness of these vital charities is of equal and mounting importance.
Comments