An urgent fundraising appeal launched to support the independent search for a seven-year-old British girl who was swept out to sea while on holiday in Morocco has surpassed £50,000 in donations.
Inaayah Makda, a young pupil from Blackburn, Lancashire, went missing on Wednesday, January 28, after a sudden and powerful tide caught her family off guard on a beach near Casablanca. Her parents, Zubair and Tasneem Makda, were sitting on rock formations near the shoreline on the very first night of what was intended to be a relaxing week-long family getaway when the tragedy unfolded.
According to family accounts, the tide appeared to be receding far out when they initially arrived at the coastal location. However, within minutes, the water rushed back in with startling speed and unexpected force. The sudden surge swept multiple beachgoers into the turbulent waters. While other individuals were eventually rescued or managed to reach safety, young Inaayah was separated from her parents by the ferocious waves.
Recalling the harrowing moments in a voice note shared with local media via Blackburn-based UCTV presenter Naseem Khan, Zubair Makda described the terrifying swiftness of the incident. He explained that they were positioned on rock formations separated by gaps roughly half a meter high when the tide suddenly surged and swept everyone into the water.
"We were just on the rocks… that were sort of spread apart. It’s sort of like half a metre-high type of rocks and that’s when the tide just suddenly just swept everyone out," Zubair said in the emotional audio message. "Inaayah was on a rock behind me. I pray she’s okay and she’s on a rock or something and she’s just waiting for somebody to rescue her. I just pray she’s not gone and she’s not left us. I’ve always said that she’s a special girl."
Relatives of the family have since highlighted that the area lacked adequate safety warnings or informational signage for international tourists, leaving visitors entirely unaware of the severe risks posed by rapid tidal shifts along that stretch of the Moroccan coast.
Accounts of the Incident
The tragedy has left the local community in Blackburn, as well as the wider British public, in a state of profound shock and deep concern. Inaayah is well-known within her local community as a diligent student who attends Roe Lee Park Primary School alongside her religious studies at the Masjid-e-Saliheen madrasah.
As the reality of the situation set in following the initial rescue attempts, the family expressed immense frustration regarding the perceived sluggishness and inadequacy of the response from local Moroccan authorities during the critical early hours of the disappearance. Concerns over a perceived lack of immediate, coordinated state action prompted loved ones to take matters into their own hands, initiating private recovery efforts to comb the coastline and surrounding waters.
Zubair and Tasneem Makda have remained in Casablanca, working tirelessly to coordinate ongoing operations while grappling with the unimaginable distress of their daughter’s disappearance. Recognizing the immense financial burden required to sustain professional search operations—which include hiring private boats and deploying aerial support—family members established an official GoFundMe campaign titled the "Search for Inaya."
The online fundraiser struck a powerful chord with the public, rapidly gaining momentum and raising over £50,000 toward its £90,000 target. The donations are critically vital for meeting expenses that are currently being borne out-of-pocket by the grieving family.
"As many of you may have seen, our beautiful seven-year-old niece Inaya has gone missing after being swept out to sea on the first day of her family holiday in Morocco. This is an unimaginably distressing time for her parents and loved ones," the fundraiser description states.
The appeal outlines that contributions are directly supporting the costs of private marine vessels, aerial search teams, and essential logistical support on the ground. These necessary expenses include securing professional translators, arranging emergency travel accommodations, and managing other unforeseen costs associated with navigating foreign administrative procedures and coordinating with local authorities.
"At present, many of these costs are being met privately by the family, and we are coming together to do everything possible to support them during this critical time," the statement added.
Search Efforts for Inaayah
Political representatives in the United Kingdom have stepped in to offer formal assistance and exert pressure on diplomatic channels to ensure all possible resources are utilized in the search. Adnan Hussain, the Member of Parliament for Blackburn, expressed his heartbreak over the incident and confirmed that he has been in direct contact with the Makda family to provide whatever support is within his power.
"I am heartbroken by this devastating news, and my thoughts and prayers are with Inaayah and her family during this unimaginable time," Mr. Hussain stated. "I am urgently raising this matter with the UK authorities, including the Foreign Office, to ensure every possible step is being taken to support the search efforts and to provide the family with all the assistance they require at this deeply distressing time."
In response to parliamentary inquiries and public concern, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued an official statement confirming that diplomatic staff are actively involved in the case. A Foreign Office spokesperson noted that officials are "supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco" and remain "in contact with local authorities" to monitor developments and facilitate communication.
As the independent search operations continue along the Moroccan coastline, community members, family, and supporters across the United Kingdom continue to rally behind the Makda family, keeping hope alive as rescue teams comb the waters for any trace of the missing seven-year-old.
The official ‘Search for Inaya’ fundraising campaign remains active on GoFundMe for those wishing to contribute to the ongoing private rescue efforts and family support costs.