The World of Inaayah Makda's Parents: A Story of Unbearable Fear and Hope
By Rumeana Jahangir
North West
'Our world has been forever changed,' said Tasneem and Zubair Makda, the parents of seven-year-old Inaayah Makda, who went missing after being swept out to sea during a holiday in Morocco. 'Every minute since has been filled with unbearable pain, fear, and hope.'
Inaayah, from Blackburn, was sitting with her parents on rocks at a Casablanca beach when they were hit by a large wave last Wednesday. The family was swept into the water, and Inaayah was lost to sight. 'We hold on to hope that she may have reached safety somewhere along the coastline,' said her parents, who also fell into the water.
The search operation has been hampered by severe weather and rough seas, they said. 'We have been forced to rely heavily on local volunteers and private efforts,' Inaayah's parents stated, expressing their frustration with the limited practical support they have received from UK authorities. 'While we have been told that our case is being monitored, this has not translated into tangible action.'
The family is desperate for more help in finding their little girl, who they describe as a 'bright, loving, and gentle little girl.' They hope she has reached safety, but they also hold on to the hope that, if the worst has happened, they can at least bring her home with dignity, prayers, and closure. 'It should not fall solely on a grieving family to navigate complex international systems during a crisis,' they said.
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that they are supporting the family and in contact with local authorities. A spokesperson said, 'We are supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with the local authorities.'
The family has been overwhelmed by the support of the British public and those helping in Morocco. A fundraiser has reached more than £60,000 to pay for search costs. 'We also hold on to the hope that, if the worst has happened, we can at least bring her home with dignity, prayers, and closure,' Inaayah's parents added, inviting the public to continue supporting their search for their beloved daughter.
