'Torture' boy returns home after operations

The scars on Issa's face are less visible

A 10-year-old Sierra Leone boy, treated in Norfolk after being tortured by soldiers, is preparing to return home.

Issa Kamara suffered severe burns and could not open a hand after being roasted over a campfire by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front in the African state.

Doctors at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital operated on the youngster for four hours in September to repair tendons in his arm.

This was followed by two further operations.

After weeks of intensive physiotherapy the youngster is preparing to return home next week.

'Vast improvement'

At his final check up at the West Norwich hospital, Issa proudly showed off his repaired arm.

It still looks a little messy and the skin is still tender but it is a vast improvement on how it was on his arrival in Britain three months ago.

Physiotherapist Margaret Youatt said: "He's done brilliantly well.

"When he arrived he had no movement in his hand whatsoever, and now he can actually use it for things and he's using it as a part of his body, whereas before it was useless."

Issa needed three operations

Issa, who cannot speak English, was able to use the few words he does know to express his gratitude: "I'm fine, fantastic," he said.

The first operation involved taking a skin graft from his thigh to cover part of the damaged hand and then attaching the hand to his groin where a "flap" of skin covered the worst of the scarring.

Issa's treatment did not affect normal patient care because medical staff gave their time free of charge.

His medical care was organised by the Eastern Daily Press through readers' donations and he is staying with a family in Norfolk.

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.

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.