The family of 15-year-old Nora Quoirin, who has been missing in Malaysia for more than a week, have offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to her return.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, they said: “Nora is our first child. She has been vulnerable since the day she was born.
“She is so precious to us and our hearts are breaking. We are appealing to anyone who has information about Nora to help us find her.
“The police have been working extremely hard to bring Nora home.”
They then explained that “in order to help their investigation, we have decided to offer a reward: 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit has been donated by an anonymous Belfast-based business for any information that directly helps us to find Nora”.
The money is equivalent to £10,000.
“If you have any information at all, please call the police hotline here on 01112285058 or email ops@lbtrust.org from outside Malaysia,” they urge.
More than 300 search and rescue personnel have been involved in the hunt for Nora, who disappeared from a Malaysian jungle resort on Sunday, August 4.
The teenager’s aunt set up an online fundraising page in the aftermath of her disappearance, which has so far collected more than £89,000.
A second campaign created by Nora’s uncle to collect money in euros now totals more than €14,000 (£13,000).
On Monday morning, a total of 348 personnel were deployed in the search operation, the largest team so far, according to Malaysia’s Malay Mail newspaper.
Malaysian police set up a new hotline over the weekend, while voluntary hikers also joined the search for Nora, who was born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly and has special needs.
Her parents, Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, a French-Irish couple who have lived in London for 20 years, thanked those involved in looking for her.
“You have given up your time especially at a special festival time,” said Ms Quoirin, referring to Hari Raya Haji, the Islamic “festival of sacrifice” celebrations.
In a video broadcast on local media, she added: “We want to say thank you to each and every one of you. We know you’re searching night and day for Nora.
“We see you working so hard and also praying with us and being with us.”
