Stony Brook Doctors To Begin Reconstructing Face Of Congolese Boy, 8, Attacked By Wild Chimpanzees

STONY BROOK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An 8-year-old Congolese boy who was attacked by wild chimpanzees and left severely disfigured will undergo facial reconstruction surgeries on Long Island beginning this week.

Dunia Sibomana was attacked two years ago near a nature preserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His brother and cousin were killed in the attack.

Dunia's lips were ripped from his face, and one cheek was torn apart. He cannot eat, drink or speak properly.

On Monday, doctors at Stony Brook Children's Hospital will operate on the boy, one of five surgeries doctors have volunteered to perform over the next eight months, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.

"We have to transplant skin and soft tissue with nerves and vessels from the forearm, bring it up to place tissues to start building his lips," said Dr. Alexander Dagum.

While he is in the country, Dunia is staying with a host family in Hauppauge.