6 hours ago
8
Rumeana JahangirNorth West
BBC
Inaayah Makda, who is an only child, is described as a "bright and gentle little girl"
The parents of a British girl who is missing after being swept out to sea on a Moroccan holiday have said their world has been "forever changed", with "every minute since filled with unbearable pain, fear and hope".
Seven-year-old Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, was sitting with her parents on rocks at a Casablanca beach when they were hit by a large wave last Wednesday.
Tasneem and Zubair Makda, who also fell into the water before losing sight of her, said: "We hold on to hope that she may have reached safety somewhere along the coastline".
The search operation had been hampered in recent days, they said, by "severe weather and rough seas".
In a statement, Inaayah's parents said they had been "forced to rely heavily on local volunteers and private efforts" as they tried to find her.
They said they were "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," they said.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with the local authorities."
Getty Images
The family were on the first night of a week-long holiday in Casablanca when the tragedy happened (stock image)
Inaayah's parents described her as a "bright, loving and gentle little girl" and said they hoped she had "reached safety somewhere along the coastline".
"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," they added.
They thanked the British public and those helping in Morocco for their support as a fundraiser has reached more than £60,000 to pay for search costs.
Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain previously said the Moroccan ambassador had given him "strong assurances" that he would "do all in his power to ensure every action is taken by local authorities to assist in the search for Inaayah".
Inaayah's parents said they were asking "simply and desperately" for more help to find their little girl, "who deserves every possible chance to be found".
