Since the autumn of 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost over 90% of its value against the dollar on the black market, plunging Lebanon into severe economic turmoil. Prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed, with sanitary pads seeing a nearly 500% increase. Packs that once cost 3,000 pounds ($2) now range between 13,000 and 35,000 pounds ($8.60 to $23) at the official exchange rate, placing them out of reach for many.
Women like Sherine are forced to improvise with makeshift alternatives such as baby nappies or rags. "With all the price hikes and the frustration of not being able to manage, I’d rather stop having my period altogether,” she told AFP, expressing the desperation many feel.
More than half the population now lives in poverty, and tens of thousands of women are on a desperate hunt for affordable menstrual products. Sherine initially used cheap sanitary pads that caused irritation, but even those have become too expensive. Now, she cuts diapers in half to create makeshift pads, prioritizing her daughter’s needs over her own.
The Lebanese government's subsidies on essential goods have not extended to menstrual products, exacerbating the issue. In response, the Dawrati (My Period) initiative was launched to provide free menstrual products to women in need, including those from the fast-disappearing middle class. Despite their efforts, demand far exceeds supply due to dwindling donations.
Innovative solutions are emerging. In the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp, international NGO Days For Girls and local partner WingWoman Lebanon are training women to stitch reusable sanitary pads from colorful cloth. These pads, which can be used for up to three years, are distributed to vulnerable communities, including Syrian refugee camps.
Rima Ali, a Syrian mother of six, reflects on her experience: “Back in Syria, there were some rough days when we couldn’t even afford to buy bread. We used to cut up material to use instead of sanitary pads. I never thought we would have to relive it all over again.”
The struggle for menstrual equity continues as organizations and individuals strive to meet the overwhelming need in Lebanon.