An urgent fundraising campaign 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 being caught in a sudden, violent tide while visiting a beach near Casablanca. The tragedy unfolded on the very first night of what was intended to be a relaxing week-long family getaway for Inaayah and her parents, Zubair and Tasneem Makda.
According to family accounts, the family had walked out onto a rocky area of the coastline. When they first arrived at the beach, the tide appeared to be far out, giving a false sense of security. However, within minutes, the water rushed back in unexpectedly.
A relative of the family, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that the tide came rushing in with startling speed. There were no warning signs or safety notices posted for tourists in the area. Within twenty minutes, the rapid waters had swept several people off the rocks. While other beachgoers managed to find safety, seven-year-old Inaayah was violently separated from her parents as a powerful wave struck.
Mr. and Mrs. Makda were themselves swept into the churning water alongside their daughter. In the terrifying moments that followed, the parents fought against the current and managed to climb to safety, but tragically lost sight of Inaayah as she was pulled further away into the sea.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the family expressed deep anguish and frustration over what they perceived as a slow and inadequate response from local Moroccan authorities. A search effort was eventually initiated on Wednesday afternoon, but the family felt compelled to take matters into their own hands to ensure every possible measure was being taken to locate the young girl.
Naseem Khan, a presenter for the Blackburn-based media outlet UCTV, shared a heartbreaking voice note on social media sent by Inaayah’s father, Zubair. In the audio message, an emotionally shattered Mr. Makda described the terrifying suddenness of the event and voiced his lingering hope that his daughter might still be found.
"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 voice note. "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."
Struggling with the unimaginable agony of the situation, he added, "I just pray she’s not gone and she’s not left us. I’ve always said that she’s a special girl."
Accounts of the Incident
The unfolding tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community in Blackburn, where Inaayah is a well-known and much-loved child. She is currently a pupil at Roe Lee Park Primary School and regularly attends the Masjid-e-Saliheen madrasah, where friends, teachers, and community members have rallied around her grieving family.
As the days have passed, Zubair and Tasneem Makda have remained in Casablanca, dedicating every waking moment to coordinating the search operations. Recognizing the limitations of the initial official response, the family made the decision to enlist a private search operator equipped with a helicopter to scan the coastline and surrounding waters from the air.
To help shoulder the immense financial burden of these private rescue operations, loved ones established an official GoFundMe appeal titled ‘Search for Inaya.’ The community response has been swift and overwhelming, with donations pouring in from across the United Kingdom and beyond. The fundraiser has already crossed the £50,000 milestone toward its £90,000 target.
The description on the GoFundMe page outlines the immense challenges the family is facing on the ground in North Africa: "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."
"We are urgently asking for your kind support and donations to help cover the costs of the ongoing search efforts, including private boat hire, aerial support, as well as essential family expenses," the statement continued. "These include translator support, emergency travel, and other unforeseen costs arising from the search and coordination with local authorities."
The organizers also noted the financial strain being placed directly on the relatives: "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."
Search Efforts for Inaayah
The disappearance has also drawn the attention of regional and national political figures who are stepping in to assist the family through diplomatic and governmental channels.
Adnan Hussain, the Member of Parliament for Blackburn, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed that he has been in direct contact with the Makda family to offer his full support during their darkest hour.
"I am heartbroken by this devastating news," 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 the mounting political and public pressure, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a formal statement acknowledging the crisis. A government spokesperson confirmed that officials are actively involved in the case, stating that the Foreign Office is "supporting the family of a British national reported missing in Morocco" and remains "in contact with local authorities" to monitor and assist with the ongoing search operations.
As the private boats, aerial teams, and ground volunteers continue their desperate sweep of the coastline near Casablanca, the ‘Search for Inaya’ fundraiser remains active online as family and friends refuse to give up hope of bringing the seven-year-old girl home.