Missing Girl Inaayah Makda: Parents' 'Unbearable Fear'

Missing girl Inaayah Makda's parents describe 'unbearable fear'

Missing girl Inaayah Makda's parents describe 'unbearable fear'Image Credit: BBC News

Key Points

  • MARRAKECH/LONDON – The parents of an 8-year-old British girl who vanished from a crowded Marrakech market have spoken of their "unbearable fear," as diplomatic efforts intensify to aid the search. The case has now triggered high-level intervention, with a senior Moroccan diplomat providing "strong assurances" to a UK Member of Parliament that all possible resources will be dedicated to finding the child.
  • Initial Response: The search began within minutes of the report, with officers securing the perimeter of the square and conducting immediate interviews with nearby vendors and witnesses. The area's complex layout of narrow streets presented a significant challenge.
  • Current Status: The operation has since been significantly expanded. Authorities are meticulously reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage from shops, hotels, and public cameras in and around the square. Search teams, including canine units, have widened their grid to cover a multi-kilometre radius from the point of disappearance.
  • Public Appeals: Photographs of Inaayah have been distributed to police stations, border crossings, and airports across Morocco. The appeal has also been broadcast on national television and radio, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately.
  • High-Level Assurances: The original source material for this article confirms the outcome of the high-level talks. Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain 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".

Of course. Here is the news article, written in the requested style and format.


Missing girl Inaayah Makda's parents describe 'unbearable fear'

MARRAKECH/LONDON – The parents of an 8-year-old British girl who vanished from a crowded Marrakech market have spoken of their "unbearable fear," as diplomatic efforts intensify to aid the search. The case has now triggered high-level intervention, with a senior Moroccan diplomat providing "strong assurances" to a UK Member of Parliament that all possible resources will be dedicated to finding the child.

Inaayah Makda, from Blackburn, UK, was on holiday with her family when she disappeared last Tuesday evening in the city's bustling Djemaa el-Fna square. Her parents, Imran and Saniya Makda, made an emotional public appeal, describing the last few days as "a living nightmare from which we cannot wake."

The disappearance has sparked a major search operation by Moroccan authorities and prompted the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to provide consular assistance to the distraught family.

A Family's Nightmare

The Makda family was nearing the end of their week-long holiday in Morocco when their trip turned to tragedy. They were navigating the world-famous souk adjacent to the Djemaa el-Fna square, an area renowned for its dense crowds of tourists, street performers, and merchants.

In a statement released through their local MP's office, Mr. and Mrs. Makda described the moment their daughter went missing. "One second she was there, holding her mother's hand, fascinated by the lights and the sounds. The next, she was gone. It was a matter of seconds in a sea of people. The fear we feel is unbearable."

The family immediately alerted local police, triggering an urgent search of the labyrinthine market and surrounding alleyways.

The Search Operation on the Ground

Moroccan law enforcement, including the Gendarmerie Royale and the DGSN (national police), have been leading the investigation since Tuesday night. The initial hours were critical, with efforts focused on the immediate vicinity.

  • Initial Response: The search began within minutes of the report, with officers securing the perimeter of the square and conducting immediate interviews with nearby vendors and witnesses. The area's complex layout of narrow streets presented a significant challenge.

  • Current Status: The operation has since been significantly expanded. Authorities are meticulously reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage from shops, hotels, and public cameras in and around the square. Search teams, including canine units, have widened their grid to cover a multi-kilometre radius from the point of disappearance.

  • Public Appeals: Photographs of Inaayah have been distributed to police stations, border crossings, and airports across Morocco. The appeal has also been broadcast on national television and radio, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately.

Diplomatic Channels Activated

As the search entered its third day with no significant breakthroughs, the family's Member of Parliament, Adnan Hussain of Blackburn, escalated the matter through diplomatic channels. This intervention aims to ensure the search remains a top priority for local authorities.

Mr. Hussain engaged directly with Morocco's ambassador to the United Kingdom, seeking to formalize and reinforce the collaborative efforts between the two nations. This step is a standard but crucial part of consular cases involving missing British nationals abroad.

According to a statement from Mr. Hussain's office, the diplomatic exchange was productive and reassuring for the family.

Assurances at the Highest Level

The core of the diplomatic effort revolves around securing a commitment for maximum resource allocation.

  • High-Level Assurances: The original source material for this article confirms the outcome of the high-level talks. Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain 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".

  • Practical Implications: These assurances are expected to translate into sustained, high-priority police work. This includes assigning senior detectives to the case, granting investigators access to national intelligence resources, and ensuring no logistical or bureaucratic hurdles slow down the search.

  • Inter-Agency Cooperation: The FCDO is facilitating communication between UK police liaisons and their Moroccan counterparts. This allows for the sharing of information and investigative techniques, ensuring a coordinated international effort is maintained.

Official Statements and Consular Support

Both UK and Moroccan officials have been measured in their public comments, focusing on the active investigation and support for the family.

An FCDO spokesperson confirmed: "We are providing consular support to the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Morocco and are in contact with the local authorities."

MP Adnan Hussain added, "Our absolute focus is on supporting the Makda family and ensuring that the Moroccan authorities have every resource at their disposal. The ambassador's assurances are a welcome and vital step. We remain hopeful, but the situation is deeply concerning, and we pray for Inaayah's safe and swift return."

Next Steps and an Uncertain Future

The investigation is now at a critical juncture. The days following a disappearance are statistically the most important for generating leads. The reinforced search effort, backed by diplomatic weight, is focused on uncovering any information that could lead to Inaayah's whereabouts.

The family remains in Marrakech, awaiting any news and being supported by consular staff. They have asked for privacy but reiterated their plea for anyone, whether a local resident or a tourist who was in the square on Tuesday, to report anything they might have seen, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

As the international search continues, a family from Blackburn is left waiting, caught in an unimaginable limbo between hope and the "unbearable fear" of the unknown.

Source: BBC News