PHOTO ESSAY: WOMEN HOLDING THEIR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, EVEN IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES
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In Lebanon, where conflict and displacement have become all too familiar, women have stepped forward—not only as survivors but as frontline responders and decision-makers. They have refused to retreat in the face of danger, choosing instead to stay, fight, and serve their communities.
This International Women’s Day 2025, and through the global theme "For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment" we honor the strength of all women, and we tell their left behind stories.
In 1995, at Beijing, the world made a promise: Women at the heart of change. Thirty years later, in Lebanon, women are not waiting—they are healing, leading and rebuilding. This photo essay featuring seven women from Lebanon - health professionals, humanitarian workers, political leaders and social activists and workers - is a tribute to the courage of all women and girls. It is a call to recognize, support, and invest in the women who hold their communities together—even in the darkest of times.
An ambulance targeted in shelling, during the last conflict. Nabatiyeh, Lebanon. UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
At Al-Najda Al-Chaabiya Allubnaniya Hospital, a beacon of hope amid destruction, Dr Salma Nahle, a 66-year-old pediatrician and emergency physician, has once again found herself at the heart of crisis. For her, medicine is not just a profession—it is an act of defiance against despair. Dr Nahle provided care amid the chaos at the Hospital where she works in South Lebanon, driven by a profound humanitarian commitment. For her, delivering medical care has become a powerful symbol of faith in the future of Lebanon.
“As the only female doctor at the hospital, I had to remain strong and be a role model for the women around me”
Dr Salma Nahle. Photo: UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
Dr Salma says “I spent 68 consecutive days [23 September–27 November 2024] in the emergency department, working tirelessly both day and night without a single break. I faced immense pressure due to the influx of injured patients, particularly during the initial days of the conflict, when the conditions of war were unprecedented, and the injuries were both severe and heart-breaking. Many of the wounded were my own relatives, neighbours and friends, making the experience all the more painful. Conditions at the hospital were grim. We often examined patients in hallways or even on chairs by the entrance or in damp shelters. We endured long hours without food, sleeping in corridors and dealing with shortages of fuel. We had to adapt to extreme situations where hot water was scarce, forcing us to wash with cold water, even in cool weather.
Yet, through everything we endured in the south, we learned the necessity of being prepared for anything and developing effective strategies to cope with whatever challenges might arise. We had to remain strong and optimistic to continue our mission and overcome adversity”. Read more.
Enhancing women's leadership roles for a sustainable future
Sarah Salloum. Photo: UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
“When I first assumed my leadership role at the hospital, I faced resistance from some male colleagues who were skeptical about a woman leading the department”
For Sarah Salloum, a 36-year-old head nurse, at the same hospital, the Al-Najda Al-Chaabiya Allubnaniya Hospital her place of work became a sanctuary for her family and a vital lifeline for the injured. Together with her husband, who leads the emergency department at the hospital, she made the courageous choice to keep her two young daughters aged 6 and 10, by her side as they balanced saving lives with protecting their own family.
She says “In the midst of the devastating conflict, I was forced to make an extremely difficult decision: to transform our workplace into a home for my family. My husband and I chose to stay with our children, alongside the patients and the injured. I did my best to provide a sense of safety and reassurance, but it was incredibly challenging.
As the head of the nursing department, my role is about more than just health care. It involves leadership and community engagement. For the past three years, I have worked tirelessly alongside civil society groups and local municipalities to empower women in their community. We believe in the innate strength of women to overcome challenges. Now is the time for women to reclaim their power and take an active role in shaping a better future.” Read more.
Investing in women to nurture peace
Rana Ghanawi. Photo: UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
“Overall, along with a group of friends, I was able, with very modest resources, to assist more than a thousand families”
A few miles from her town, Kfarroman, in South Lebanon, on 28 September 2024, 42-year-old mother of two Rana Ghanawi nearly lost her children when a fire broke out in a vehicle in front of her following an airstrike that killed everyone inside. Rana is a social worker with a Diploma in Health and Social Supervision and Institutional Management, and a master’s degree in child and Adolescent Psychology and Family Mediation who prepared a study on the needs of returnees for UN Women.
She says “The atmosphere in these shelters was filled with tension and anxiety. The displaced experienced enormous psychological stress that was manifested in a noticeable increase in cases of domestic violence. In one of the shelters, I was responsible for, there were two divorces in one week! My colleagues and I stood by the abused women, providing them with psychological and moral support and consultations related to mental and sexual health. We must strive to build a new generation of empowered women whom I believe are the ones who respond most swiftly and effectively during crises. In times of peace, we must intensify our efforts to train women on the concept of peace, which begins with children at home and extends to the community as a whole. We must invest in women to nurture a generation that grows in peace.
Certainly, this experience we went through will leave scars in our hearts, souls and minds. I liken the experience of displacement to uprooting a fruitful tree from its environment and replanting it in a strange and distant place, which often leads to its shrinkage”. Read her story.
Transforming displacement centers into hubs of support
Ghadeer Houmani. Photo: UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
“I felt an internal and psychological need to act and change this new reality, which I could not accept, and not remain powerless in the face of it. My children were a significant factor driving my efforts to restore my normal life and move forward”
Ghadeer Houmani, is a 45-year-old mother of two with a PhD in Life Leadership and a specialized trainer for numerous social institutions. She returned to Nabatiyeh, in South Lebanon, as soon as the shelling stopped. Where others saw ruins, she saw a mission. Displaced by the war, she never stopped working—transforming displacement centers into hubs of support and resilience for the most vulnerable. During the conflict, Ghadeer and her family were displaced to the Jiyeh area. At her return she, resumed work at her association the Social Work Spirit Association while following up on what she started in the displacement centres in Jiyeh.
She says “Like other displaced individuals, I constantly felt a longing for my family, relatives, neighbours and home. We were all in a state of great shock, which left us unable to undertake any initiatives during the initial days. But shortly after, we managed to build bridges of mutual trust within a safe space that helped women vent their feelings and cry, which often assists in relieving life’s burdens and reaching psychological comfort. Witnessing displaced individuals, especially women, suffering from extreme loneliness and the loss of the bonds they were accustomed to in their environments and communities was incredibly painful.
What I missed most during that dark period was the normal life we used to lead, whether within the family or in our communities, which we are now gradually regaining. We have resumed the association’s activities and the aid we provide. Read more.
Putting women’s needs at the heart of humanitarian action
Amani Abou Zeinab (L), Nahila Salameh (C), Guitta Ojeil (R)
”Women in particular struggle with adapting to new environments. Raising children in these settings has been challenging”- Guitta Ojeil
Amid the growing number of internally displaced people in Lebanon, during the recent conflict, women social activists and politicians led various efforts to ensure that the humanitarian response is not blind to women’s needs. Three of these women share their experiences as ‘women focal points’ for the Fiftyfifty civil society organization under a UN Women political participation project funded by the United Kingdom.
Guitta Ojeil, 57 - a dedicated politician and social activist from West Bekaa first got involved in politics in 2004, running for and winning municipal elections in Beit Lahya, Rashaya El Wadi. However, she has been politically active before 2004 and received various trainings.
Observing the many challenges faced by her community, particularly by the elderly, Ojeil established a social and development organization focused on seniors, called Cles De La Patience. Amid the recent escalation, she took on significant roles in responding to the needs, helping Internally displaced populations who have relocated to shelters, and supporting hosting families.
Large-scale destruction across Lebanon, here In Nabatiyeh. Photo: UN Women Lebanon / Georges Roukoz
“The trust bridge that was built between society and women focal points has helped my colleagues and I to continue supporting more than 30 families across Beirut”- Nahila Salameh
With the conflict’s recent escalation, long-time social activist Nahila Salameh decided to ensure women’s sanitary products were available for the displaced.
Salameh says one of her main challenges was in securing funding. “There are also insufficient bathrooms, because the shelters are very crowded, and the number of bathrooms is very limited. This is besides the severe water shortage. Since this war started, I came back and launched a new campaign in the Beirut area to support displaced women and send a message to remind the community of the importance of sanitary pads,” she says. “Women are also losing their privacy and their freedom to do their daily activities.”
Photo: Amani Abou Zeinab (R)
“Having people’s trust motivates me. They want me standing next to them, so this has left me with no choice but to stand next to them and support them until the end”- Amani Abou Zeinab
Amani Abou Zeinab, a 44-year-old mother from Saida, began doing social work in her local community in 2017, later beginning political activism during the 17 October 2019 protests in Saida. With the outbreak of the recent conflict, she worked across 22 shelters in Saida to create a community-driven initiative to support displaced individuals. These shelters housed around 7,000 displaced people, with an additional 5,000 staying in private homes.
“I will never forget a first-time pregnant woman who had to move to a shelter due to the conflict,” she recalls. “The woman was emotionally distressed, having prepared a nursery for her baby only to leave everything behind. I decided to stay by her side until she gave birth, coordinating with local contacts to identify hospitals and doctors willing to help. When the time came, I accompanied her to the hospital, creating one of my most touching memories. I felt the mother’s deepest gratitude for my support.” Read more.
Learn more about these inspiring women in these videos: