Torture boy set for operation

Issa Kamara suffered burns to his face and hand

A 10-year-old boy who suffered severe burns in Sierra Leone when he was tortured by rebels could have an operation in the UK next week.

Issa Kamara, was flown from Sierra Leone at the weekend for treatment at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after government red tape was swept aside.

In 1998 he was captured by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front with his mother Mabinty.

She was raped and forced to clap and sing while rebels held Issa over a fire.

Issa's hand is hospital's priority

He needs corrective surgery to burns on his face and an operation to correct the bones in his hand and wrist, which are now growing the wrong way.

Issa, whose treatment is being organised by the Eastern Daily Press through readers' donations, is staying with a family in Norfolk.

He appeared at a news conference on Tuesday in Norwich where he smiled for the cameras and spoke the English words he had learned in recent weeks - "fantastic" and "thank you very much".

Juma Bah, a social worker, who has travelled from Africa with Issa said the youngster was most concerned about having his hand treated.

Condition assessed

Issa, speaking through Mr Bah, said he was "excited" to be in England and that he hoped "nobody will laugh at him any more" when his hand had been treated.

Allan Bardsley, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, said doctors would spend a week assessing Issa's condition.

The treatment will last several months

Mr Bardsley said the first and main operation, which would last about four hours, could take place next week.

"He can use the hand as a hook at the moment," said Mr Bardsley.

"We will aim to straighten it and give him back as much flexibility as possible."

The surgeon said they would concentrate on treating Issa's hand first because that was what concerned the youngster most.

The next step would be to carry out corrective surgery on the burns to the right-hand side of Issa's face.

Doctors' offer

Before his arrival Issa, who is from a farming village in the north of Sierra Leone, was being cared for by US-based charity, the Leonenet Street Children's Project, in his country's capital, Freetown.

Issa had originally been turned away by the National Health Service - even though doctors were willing to work for free to help him - because of red tape.

NHS rules said he could not be treated because of the lack of a "reciprocal agreement" - which in theory would allow UK nationals to travel for treatment in Sierra Leone in the same circumstances.

His plight resulted in direct intervention from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who arranged for the case to be rushed through.