A Kosovan girl hit by shrapnel as her mother fled their burning village is to receive a false eye thanks to the kindness of charity volunteers. SARA NELSON reports.

Shkurte Mahita was just four months old when she was hit by shrapnel as her mother ran across a field to escape their torched village of Drenica in north west Kosovo.

Several villagers, including Shkurte's mother, were captured by Serbian forces during the ethnic cleansing atrocities of 1999 and looted for wedding rings, earrings and anything else of value.

It was not until some days later that Shkurte was eventually taken to hospital in Pristina where her injuries were treated and her eye removed.

Now aged seven, Shkurte does not go to school because she is so badly bullied due to her disfigurement.

Lynne Ramsay, 58, of Crown Lane, Chislehurst, became aware of Shkurte's plight when she and her 21-year-old son, John, visited Kosovo as part of a group of volunteers from Orpington charity, Smile International.

The charity was set up by Petts Wood Baptist Minister Clive Doubleday, in response to the Kosovan conflict of 1999.

Following extensive fundraising, it has opened a centre in Gjakove, in western Kosovo, to provide medical and dental facilities as well as facilities for teaching IT skills and English.

Lynne and John spent two weeks in Kosovo in October last year, distributing aid and helping families rebuild their lives.

Mrs Ramsay said: "John and I worked to sort aid and deliver it to unbelievably poor families as well as to the hospital.

"Others were painting the rebuilt houses. Having heard about Shkurte, I went back a second time to try to find her."

Mrs Ramsay returned in August, eventually found the little girl and took photos of her back to the UK to get a diagnoses.

She said: "Shkurte doesn't go to school and spends most of her time hiding, covering her missing eye with her hand.

"It was just devastating to see.

"But you can't help everyone so I decided to do what I could for Shkurte. The way I looked at it, this little girl was at least moveable.

She added: "Many of us have seen awful photos on television or in the papers but nothing prepares you for standing in front of people who literally have nothing.

"Many of us will never forget the experience. While I was there I saw naked children running around with pot bellies of malnutrition normally associated with Africa."

Now following appeals and months of planning, Shkurte is being brought to London where she will receive a new eye.

Geoffrey Rose, a surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, will perform the surgery.

Both Mr Rose, who has operated on war injuries before, and the rest of the medical staff involved will be giving their time for free and Shkurte's travel to the country is also being provided free of charge.

The only thing the charity has to pay for is the costs of her bed at the hospital and the use of the operating theatre.

To cover these costs, the charity is arranging a concert which will pay for Shkurte's care while she recuperates.

The concert, featuring Greenwich singing group The Queen's Singers, will take place on Sunday in Christ Church, Lubbock Road, Chislehurst.

Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12.50 on the night and are available through Smile International.

For more information, call 01689 870932 or email info@smileinternational.org