The family of a seven-year-old girl who was swept out to sea in Morocco have described their “unbearable pain” as search and rescue operations have been “hampered by severe weather”.
Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, Lancashire, was sitting on some rocks on a beach in Casablanca when she was hit by a large wave on Wednesday, her family previously told the BBC.
On Friday, the independent MP for Blackburn, Adnan Hussain, said search efforts are continuing but “have been hindered due to a storm”.
In a statement, Inaayah’s family said their “world has been forever changed” and “every minute since has been filled with unbearable pain, fear, and hope”.
Describing Inaayah as “a bright, loving, and gentle little girl”, the family said search and rescue operations had been “hampered by severe weather, rough seas, and the challenging terrain of the coastline”.
The family said: “We are also deeply concerned by the limited practical support we have received from UK authorities.
“While we have been told that our case is being monitored, this has not translated into tangible action.
“We are not asking the UK government to take over the search but to actively advocate with Moroccan authorities for expanded efforts, to push for additional resources, and to provide the necessary coordination and expertise to strengthen the search.
“As British parents of a British child missing overseas, we need more – practical, urgent support that can help escalate the search and bring additional resources into play.”
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The statement added: “This is not about blame.
“This is about a little girl who is deeply loved and missed, and about parents who are doing everything in their power to bring their daughter home.
“We are asking the UK government, the Foreign Office, and relevant authorities to urgently support the deployment of additional resources and ensure that no possibility is left unexplored.”
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It said they had been forced to rely on local volunteers and private efforts, supported by the public’s generosity.
“Inaayah is not just a statistic,” the family said. “She is a little girl who deserves every possible chance to be found.
“We are asking, simply and desperately, for everything that can be done – now.
“We will not stop searching for our daughter, and we ask the public to continue keeping her in their prayers.”
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A spokesperson for the Foreign Office previously said they are “supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with the local authorities”.
