‘I need to get my daughter out of Yemen after 32 years apart’
A mother whose daughter was kidnapped by her father and taken to war-torn Yemen tells of her battle to see her for only the second time in more than 30 years. Ruth Mosalski reports
JACKIE Morgan’s three daughters – Rahannah, Nadia and Safia – were taken from her in 1986 when her then husband, Sadek Saleh, fled 4,000 miles to Yemen with the girls.
The first chance to see her daughters came in 2002 after she flew to Aden in southern Yemen.
At that time Jackie was able to see Safia for just 15 minutes, during which she was able to give her daughter a birthday present and introduce herself.
Later the same year Rahannah and Nadia were able to come to Cardiff to stay with her, but returned home to Yemen.
Safia’s father wouldn’t allow her to travel with her sisters to the UK.
While Jackie, who lives in Ely, was in Yemen her husband discovered she was there, found her and threatened her life.
After that he went on the run with Safia again.
When they were taken Jackie had ward of court of the girls in Britain, but Yemeni law gave Sadek total rights over his children.
Safia knew her mother’s name and had her birth certificate and the pair first got in touch a year ago through Facebook.
Then, just weeks ago, they were able to speak on the phone and share pictures.
Safia is now 34 and has four children of her own, aged 12, 11, 10 and two.
“She is a spit of me, my double,” said Jackie.
“I just couldn’t believe it because I haven’t seen her in so long. She’s a young woman now and like me when I was younger.
“She has the same features as me and everything.”
Jackie’s daughter is “desperate” to come to the UK with her children and escape the war which has ravaged the country since 2015.
More than 9,245 people have been killed and 52,800 injured since March 2015, according to the UN.
Jackie is desperate to ensure her daughter or grandchildren don’t become another of those heartbreaking casualties.
“She doesn’t speak very good English but we have an interpreter, who has been helping me speak to her, but contact is poor because of the situation out there.
“Her first words were to tell me she loved me and wanted to see me before she died,” said Jackie. “I just need to get them out of there as soon as possible.
“It’s awful – there’s no medicine, no water, nothing.
“They can’t go out anywhere because there are bombs going off. She says they’re all in one room. There’s no electricity and it’s very – very hot. The situation is so bad.
“I’ve seen pictures and it’s obliterated.”
Jackie, now 56, who is also mum to Lucy, has never met any of her 10 grandchildren but thinks this is her chance – if she can raise £4,000.
Safia would then have to get to Aden and take one of the few flights to Cairo, in Egypt, before then travelling to Cardiff.
Jackie said: “I can’t describe it – it would just be amazing to see her here. She was only a baby when he took them so to be reunited would be beautiful.”
Jackie has organised a night at the Home Guard Club in Ely to try to raise the money. Local businesses have begun donating items to help her raise as much as possible.
Getting to know her youngest daughter would help ease decades of heartache for Jackie and would finally mean she has some of her family close by and safe.
In 2011 her middle daughter, Nadia, died after complications with childbirth and her two children remain with their father.
She also can’t get in touch with her other daughter as her husband has stopped contact.
“If we can get Safia over, maybe Rahannah can come along later. I want her here with the kids.
“It’s been hard. Life hasn’t been easy. You try to get on with your life but it’s always there in the background and you’re thinking every day ‘Could it be different?’
“I’m still in mourning for Nadia and still get upset. It’s hard to move on.”
Jackie had a breakdown in 2009 and became very ill and her second marriage has also broken up.
Her ex-husband, Saleh, died in a car crash in 2011.
“I just thought I am living here and I would like my daughter to come back with her kids and be safe. It would put my mind at rest.”
■ To find out details of the fundraising event call Lucy on 07541 102061.