Lebanese youth activist turns blast trauma into nationwide medical aid movement
UN award honors Marina El Khawand’s efforts to expand free treatment access amid Lebanon’s deepening health crisis
BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Lebanese activist Marina El Khawand, who witnessed the 2020 Beirut port explosion at age 18, has channeled the trauma of that day into sustained humanitarian action.
She has since built a nationwide medical relief network that now supports vulnerable communities across Lebanon.
At 24, she is one of five laureates honored at the Young Activists Summit at the United Nations in Geneva for building a volunteer-driven network that provides free medication, consultations, and humanitarian support to thousands.
Khawand said the explosion — which killed more than 220 people and destroyed large swaths of Beirut — propelled her to act after she walked through shattered neighborhoods and felt powerless amid the chaos.
Before leaving Lebanon to continue her law studies abroad, she decided to volunteer in the Karantina district, one of the worst-hit areas, where she encountered an elderly woman who had refused to evacuate and was struggling to breathe due to a lack of asthma medication.
Struck by the severity of Lebanon’s post-2019 economic collapse and its crippling impact on drug availability, Khawand searched multiple pharmacies without success.
She eventually turned to social media, where an influencer responded within hours and helped secure medication. The woman’s recovery and gratitude, Khawand said, became the moment she realized her mission was to save lives.
She soon founded Medonations, a nonprofit organization that now operates collection points in more than 65 countries and provides medical supplies, surgeries, and humanitarian assistance to over 25,000 families in Lebanon.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medonations distributed oxygen machines, and amid last year’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, it delivered medication, diapers, and hygiene products to displaced civilians.
Khawand has also launched the Free HealthTech Clinic, which uses AI-equipped medical kits enabling physicians abroad to remotely assess patients in Lebanon, review prescriptions, and adjust treatments in real time.
She described the model as “health beyond borders,” emphasizing its role in bridging Lebanon’s widening gap in healthcare access.
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