Marina El Khawand, who was 18 when Beirut’s 2020 port explosion devastated her city, turned a traumatic rescue into a long-term mission. She founded Medonations to deliver free medical supplies and surgeries, growing to collection points in 65+ countries and assisting over 25,000 families in Lebanon. The group provided oxygen during COVID-19 and relief during last year’s conflict, and launched a Free HealthTech Clinic that enables remote, AI-assisted examinations. Khawand was recently honored at the Young Activists Summit in Geneva.
From Blast to Care: How Marina El Khawand Turned Trauma into Free Healthcare for Thousands
Marina El Khawand, who was 18 when Beirut’s 2020 port explosion devastated her city, turned a traumatic rescue into a long-term mission. She founded Medonations to deliver free medical supplies and surgeries, growing to collection points in 65+ countries and assisting over 25,000 families in Lebanon. The group provided oxygen during COVID-19 and relief during last year’s conflict, and launched a Free HealthTech Clinic that enables remote, AI-assisted examinations. Khawand was recently honored at the Young Activists Summit in Geneva.
08:20 PM, 11/20/2025Health
Marina El Khawand was 18 when the devastating 2020 port explosion tore through Beirut. The blast destroyed neighbourhoods and killed more than 220 people. The shock of that day convinced her she had to act to help vulnerable people in her city.
A single rescue that sparked a mission
In her second year of law school, Khawand volunteered at the blast site and later went alone into Karantina, one of the hardest-hit neighbourhoods. Inside a damaged building she found an elderly woman pale and barely moving, clutching an empty medication dispenser — the same kind of asthma inhaler her mother used. After searching three pharmacies with no success, Khawand posted an appeal on Instagram. Within hours an influencer she had tagged secured 12 boxes and the woman was able to breathe again.
"Thank you for saving my life," the woman whispered — words Khawand says transformed her sense of purpose.
Building Medonations and scaling relief
Motivated by that moment, Khawand founded the non-profit Medonations to provide free, equal medical assistance to Lebanon's most vulnerable communities. Over five years the organisation expanded collection points to more than 65 countries and reports it has helped over 25,000 families with medical supplies and surgeries. Medonations also supplied oxygen machines during the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered sanitary products, diapers and medication to displaced people during last year’s Israel–Hezbollah conflict.
Health beyond borders: the Free HealthTech Clinic
To overcome barriers in access to care, Khawand launched the Free HealthTech Clinic, distributing kits that include AI-enabled devices which allow doctors to examine patients remotely, review prescriptions and monitor vital signs in real time. "The doctor can be in Switzerland, the patient can be in Lebanon, and they can see the vital signs in real time," she said. The initiative emphasizes practical, low-cost technology to extend care across borders.
At 24, Khawand was named one of five laureates at the Young Activists Summit in Geneva — a recognition of how personal trauma was channelled into a scalable humanitarian response that continues to deliver lifesaving care.