The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been seized by M23 rebels, as a “public health nightmare.”

WHO officials say the conditions in the provincial capital Goma remain “dire” with no running water, electricity and civilians trapped – including health professionals.

A senior official of the UN peacekeeping force in DRC has warned that the level of suffering among those caught up in the violence was “unimaginable”.

Vivian van de Perre, deputy special representative for protection and operations with the UN Stabilisation Mission, told the Security Council on Tuesday that there was a need for “urgent and co-ordinated international action” to stop the fighting between M23 rebels and DRC forces as they battled for control of Goma.

The condition of 700,000 internally displaced people who lived in Goma has deteriorated, while hundreds of thousands have fled in anticipation of clashes between the two sides. This is certain to lead to more suffering, deaths and spread of deadly diseases.

There is every sign that the situation could escalate after DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, who blames his Kigali counterpart Paul Kagame for the conflict, snubbed talks called by President William Ruto and vowed a “vigorous and co-ordinated response” against what he called “terrorists.”

Tshisekedi criticised the international community for “inaction”, saying it had not done enough as the security crisis escalated.

It is noteworthy that the DRC conflict is one of the longest wars on the continent. The DRC is Africa’s second-largest country, rich in mineral resources.

It does not seem that the solution would come from outside the East African Community, of which DRC is a member.

Tshisekedi accuses Kagame of sending troops to the DRC to support MR23, a claim Rwanda denies. In fact, the DRC leader has rejected direct talks with the rebels and instead insisted on engaging Kagame. Kigali was on Wednesday angered by comments from South Africa leader Cyril Ramaphosa linking Kagame’s administration to the deaths in Goma.

But amid this standoff is the continuing suffering of the people of eastern DRC, whose lives have been disrupted in an escalating humanitarian crisis.

We urge EAC leaders to seek an amicable and long- lasting solution to the DRC crisis through dialogue before it destabilises the entire region.