On July 13, during a protest outside the home of Mohamed Fehmi, the Minister of the Interior of Beirut, 3-year-old Alexandra’s parents Tracy and Paul Nag (Paul Nag) Naggear) raised their fists and they were killed in a massive explosion last year. In the deadly explosion, the families of the victims are seeking justice for their loved ones. Bilal Hussein/Associated Press hide caption

On July 13, during a protest outside the home of Mohamed Fehmi, the Minister of the Interior of Beirut, 3-year-old Alexandra’s parents Tracy and Paul Nag (Paul Nag) Naggear) raised their fists and they were killed in a massive explosion last year. In the deadly explosion, the families of the victims are seeking justice for their loved ones.

Beirut-George Khnaisser was resurrected on the same day that more than 200 people were killed in the Lebanese capital. His mother gave birth in a destroyed ward in Beirut. The room was full of blood stains, glass and ceiling fragments. The paramedics were busy doctors and nurses-some of them were injured-they were under the light of a mobile phone flashlight. Work.

Just after 6 pm on August 4, 2020, hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate were ignited in a dilapidated warehouse in Beirut Port. The resulting explosion destroyed the capital in a matter of seconds, leaving a trace of destruction-including the birthplace of the baby George in St. George's Hospital, two miles away.

The explosion killed at least 217 people and was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Twisted metal, collapsed rubble and dried blood will become signs of Beirut’s houses and streets in the coming weeks. An investigation by Reuters later revealed that senior Lebanese politicians, including the president and prime minister, were aware of the random storage of explosives, but failed to take measures to prevent the disaster.

Angry Lebanese accused the country's leaders of committing crimes that allowed this to happen-a report released by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday supports this allegation. The organization found evidence of criminal negligence-according to Lebanese law, this amounted to a possible intentional or unintentional killing.

The public responded quickly to the explosion, with large-scale demonstrations against the political class and demands for an international investigation. The strong opposition led to the resignation of the Lebanese government five days later, including the then Prime Minister Hassan Diab, and promised to conduct a domestic investigation quickly.

But these promises have never been fully fulfilled. Now, one year after the explosion, the investigation has stalled, and the families of the victims continue to evade justice.

On July 10, Edmond Khnaisser held his son George at his home in the town of Jal el-Dib, north of Beirut. On August 4, 2020, Hennesser's wife Emmanuel was giving birth and the explosion tore apart the hospital where George was born. Bilal Hussein/Associated Press hide caption

On July 10, Edmond Khnaisser held his son George at his home in the town of Jal el-Dib, north of Beirut. On August 4, 2020, Hennesser's wife Emmanuel was giving birth and the explosion tore apart the hospital where George was born.

George's father Edmond Khnaisser (Edmond Khnaisser) was present. In a video that went viral on social media, Khnaisser filmed his wife Emmanuelle's birth, when a powerful explosion tore windows and bounced glass, rubble and ceiling tiles onto her delivery bed. The power of the explosion caused the bed to pass through the room, and she was also inside.

George's birth was a miracle, Khnaisser told NPR, "a symbol of life."

The view of Beirut Harbour nearly a year after the 2020 explosion. Hussam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency hide caption via Getty Images

The view of Beirut Harbour nearly a year after the 2020 explosion.

Tracy Awad Naggear and her 3-year-old daughter Alexandra were at home when the explosion occurred. After 15 years of civil war in Lebanon, as soon as she heard the explosion, she knew she was going to catch her child and flee to the refuge. But a shock wave made them fly through the room.

Awad Naggear tried to protect Alexandra from the explosion. She fell on her daughter and then lost consciousness. Her husband Paul Naggear rushed home and found his wife and daughter under the bricks in the door and ceiling. They were badly injured and unconscious - but still alive.

Awad Nagel survived. Alexandra never regained consciousness. Three days later, she died in the hospital.

In 2019, Paul Naggear carried his daughter Alexandra on his shoulders. After the explosion, Alexandra never regained consciousness and later died in the hospital. Tracy Awad Nagel hide caption

In 2019, Paul Naggear carried his daughter Alexandra on his shoulders. After the explosion, Alexandra never regained consciousness and later died in the hospital.

Since then, the couple has used all their grief and trauma to seek justice for Alexandra and others who lost their lives in the explosion. They joined the alliance of the families of the victims and tirelessly pressed Lebanese officials to cooperate in the investigation.

"From the beginning we must be very strong," Awad Naggear said, "because we know we have no choice."

As for Lebanon’s political leaders, she said, “If we don’t lead this struggle, no one will lead.”

Photos of victims of the bombing in Beirut port on August 4, 2020 hang on a street in Beirut. Hassan Amar/Associated Press hide caption

Photos of victims of the bombing in Beirut port on August 4, 2020 hang on a street in Beirut.

None of Lebanon’s senior politicians met with the families of the victims. No official apology or acknowledgment of responsibility has been issued. The investigation was delayed: no one was prosecuted. Politicians and senior figures failed to cooperate with the formal trial request made by Chief Investigator Judge Tarek Bitar.

Bitar is the second investigating judge to take over the case. Former prosecutor Fadi Sawan was removed from office after accusing the outgoing prime minister and three former ministers of negligence. Five months later, Judge Bitar is also working hard to make progress with officials.

Even most of the cleanup work after the explosion was handled by volunteers, who flocked in when they were still apparently absent on the streets of Beirut.

"I mean, it was their crime," Awad Naggear said, referring to the leader of the country. When discussing the role of politicians in the explosion, she expressed doubts. "Ammonium nitrate is there, it's theirs. They know it's there. They didn't do anything. They have a few months, they have a few years."

Lebanese leader has insisted on being in power since the bombing

She was referring to the seven years when ammonium nitrate—usually used in agricultural fertilizers and sometimes in bombs—has been forgotten or neglected in port warehouses. After unloading in 2013, why such a large amount of highly explosive materials remained in the port is still unknown.

It is not uncommon for Naggears to lack confidence in Lebanese leaders, nor is it new. In October 2019, when Lebanon began to show signs of rapid economic collapse, they joined the ranks of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who rushed to the streets to demand political reforms. Protesters accused politicians of paralyzing the country through corruption, negligence and nepotism.

The couple used to take Alexandra together in demonstrations, hoping that they would eventually bring a better Lebanon. Alexandra, wearing pink overalls, smiled and waved the national flag in the family photo at the time.

But Lebanese politicians—many of them are former warlords and descendants of Lebanon’s brutal civil war that ended in 1990—despite the massive port explosion and public outrage at them, they still managed to stay in power. In the economic collapse, they still dominate the dilapidated state of a grieving country. The World Bank said that this economic collapse has plunged more than half of the population into poverty. At the same time, severe shortages of infrastructure such as medicines, electricity, and fuel continue to burden daily life.

Hope for New Lebanon

Naggears' home was destroyed in the explosion. They rebuilt the house, and their seven-year marriage and memory are irretrievable. But the couple still couldn't let themselves sleep there, and now prefer to live in a second home in the mountains outside Beirut.

Awad Naggear said that she went back to the old place from time to time and spent a few hours walking around in Alexandra's bedroom, seeking some comfort. Then the sadness became too heavy. She is preparing for the day when they finally move back.

Unlike many others, they have no plans to leave this country. They said they were determined to fight for a better Lebanon. "They took my child," she said. "I won't let them take my life in this house with my husband, nor will Alexandra's house."

She insisted that something beautiful was born on August 4 last year.

"A new Lebanon," she called it, and she hopes citizens can take it back from corrupt political leaders.

On Wednesday, she and her husband gathered with other families in the destroyed Beirut port and continued to demand justice.

George's father Edmond Khnaisser said that his son's life gave him family strength during a difficult year.

"I want to give him a bright future," Khnaisser said. "I hope he will be a very happy child."

But celebrating George’s birthday on August 4th feels wrong, Khnaisser said, knowing that at least 217 people will never have another birthday.

On the contrary, out of respect for the lost life, the family will celebrate George's birthday on August 8 this year.