From Beirut’s Rubble to the UN: A Young Activist’s Fight for the Global Right to Health
In August 2020, a cataclysmic explosion tore through Beirut, killing hundreds and shattering Lebanon’s famed healthcare system. In the chaos, 18-year-old law student Marina El Khawand made a life-altering decision. She chose to stay and fight.
This decision sparked a journey from a single act of aid to a global movement for health equity. Her organization, Medonations, now operates in 65 countries and has supported over 25,000 people. For her work, El Khawand was honored at the United Nations in Geneva in November 2025.
The Spark: A Single Purple Inhaler
In the devastated days after the blast, El Khawand ventured into the worst-hit areas. There, she found an elderly woman trapped in her damaged home, clutching an empty purple asthma inhaler. El Khawand searched pharmacies frantically but found none.
Desperate, she posted a photo of the inhaler on Instagram, appealing for help. The post was shared by an influencer, and within hours, medication was sourced locally and from abroad. “The moment she saw the medications… she started crying,” El Khawand recalls. That moment gave birth to Medonations.
Building a Movement for Systemic Change
What began as emergency aid evolved into a structured mission for “health equity for everyone.” El Khawand, now 24 and also studying pharmacy, focuses on long-term systemic solutions alongside humanitarian work.
She helped launch Lebanon’s first Free HealthTech Clinic in 2025, integrating AI to increase access. She also founded CuraLoop, a startup that recycles medical waste into sustainable materials. These innovations work at the intersection of policy, technology, and solidarity.
A Global Call to Action at the United Nations
Honored at the UN’s Young Activists Summit, El Khawand’s message to global leaders was clear. “Impact starts with saving lives, not with beautiful speeches,” she stated at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. She called for translating young people’s policy ideas into concrete action.
Her story is a powerful testament to resilience. It proves that from the deepest tragedy, a global force for good can emerge. It champions the fundamental right to health for all.
