From a sun-drenched terrace in Beirut, the view is a study in contradictions. A small lemon tree and a pot of rosemary lean toward the light, while in the distance, the Mediterranean Sea meets an azure sky. But the foreground tells a different story: the skeletal remains of the Beirut port, the site of the August 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands according to Human Rights Watch. It is a landscape of resilience and ruin, and for Vanessa Zammar, it is home.
For the 31-year-old Swiss-Lebanese woman, the volatility of the region—including the escalation of conflicts that intensified in early March—does not outweigh her commitment to the people here. While her parents in Switzerland frequently ask why she doesn’t simply return to the safety of Europe, Zammar views the suggestion as a simplification of a complex reality. Having lived in Lebanon for eight years, she is deeply embedded in a community facing one of the most severe economic collapses in modern history.
At the center of her work is a silent, often stigmatized crisis: menstrual equity. Vanessa Zammar’s fight against period poverty in Lebanon is not just about the distribution of sanitary products, but about restoring dignity to thousands of women and girls who have been pushed into extreme poverty by a failing state.
The Economic Toll of a Silent Crisis
Period poverty—the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, and adequate sanitation facilities—has become an acute emergency in Lebanon. Since 2019, the country has suffered a catastrophic financial meltdown. The Lebanese Lira has lost more than 98% of its value against the U.S. Dollar, turning basic necessities into luxury items as reported by the World Bank.
Because Lebanon imports the vast majority of its menstrual products, the price of pads and tampons has skyrocketed, far outpacing the average household’s purchasing power. For many women, the choice is no longer between brands, but between buying food or buying menstrual hygiene products. This economic pressure forces many to resort to unsafe alternatives, such as old rags, newspaper, or cardboard, which significantly increase the risk of reproductive tract infections.
The crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable: displaced women, refugees, and those living in the marginalized outskirts of Beirut. In these settings, the lack of clean water and private spaces further exacerbates the struggle to manage menstruation with dignity.
Breaking the Taboo Amidst Chaos
Zammar’s mission extends beyond logistics. In many parts of Lebanese society, menstruation remains a taboo subject, rarely discussed openly and often shrouded in shame. This cultural silence makes it harder for women to seek help or for policymakers to recognize menstrual hygiene as a fundamental health right.
By integrating the distribution of supplies with education, Zammar works to dismantle these stigmas. Her approach emphasizes that menstrual health is a component of overall public health, not a private embarrassment. This is particularly critical for adolescent girls, for whom the inability to afford period products can lead to school absenteeism and a decline in educational attainment.
The Impact of Instability
The challenge of maintaining these programs is compounded by Lebanon’s overlapping crises. The 2020 port explosion destroyed infrastructure and displaced thousands, while the ongoing political deadlock has left basic services, including electricity and water, in a state of collapse.
- Financial Barriers: Hyperinflation has made the procurement of imported hygiene kits increasingly expensive.
- Logistical Hurdles: Unstable roads and security concerns in conflict-prone areas complicate the delivery of aid.
- Psychological Strain: The cumulative trauma of the explosion and economic ruin has increased the demand for holistic support systems.
Choosing Presence Over Safety
The tension between Zammar’s two identities—Swiss and Lebanese—is most evident in the conversations she has with her family in Suisse Romande. To an outside observer, the logic of evacuation is simple. To Zammar, however, leaving would mean abandoning a mission that has become more urgent as the situation worsens.
«It would be harder for me to be in Switzerland, separated from my daily life, my fiancé, my friends,» she notes. For Zammar, the “extraction” her parents envision is not a rescue, but a disconnection from a purpose. Her presence in Beirut is a deliberate choice to stand with a population that is often forgotten by the international community once the initial news cycle of a crisis fades.
| Category | Pre-2019 Status | Current Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Value | Stable Peg (1,507 LBP/USD) | Extreme Devaluation |
| Hygiene Access | Market-based Availability | Luxury/Aid-dependent |
| Public Health | Functional Infrastructure | Systemic Collapse |
Disclaimer: This article discusses public health and reproductive hygiene. For medical advice regarding menstrual health, please consult a licensed healthcare provider.
As Lebanon continues to navigate a precarious political and security landscape, the need for grassroots interventions like those led by Zammar remains critical. The next phase of such initiatives typically involves scaling distribution networks and seeking sustainable, long-term funding to move beyond emergency aid toward systemic menstrual equity.
We invite you to share your thoughts on how international communities can better support grassroots health initiatives in crisis zones in the comments below.
