Sudan stands among the countries where conflict has dimmed the promise of Ramadan, the United Nations said Friday.
Antonio Guterres marked the approaching holy month with a call for unity and urgent humanitarian action.
Speaking through his spokesperson at UN headquarters, he urged the world to bridge divides and deliver hope.
The secretary-general described Ramadan as a sacred season of reflection, prayer and moral renewal.
He said the month carries a noble vision of peace that should inspire solidarity across borders.
Yet for millions trapped in violence and hardship, he warned, that vision remains painfully distant.
He cited suffering stretching from Afghanistan to Yemen, and from Gaza to Sudan and beyond.
In those regions, families continue to endure war, hunger, displacement and entrenched discrimination.
“In these difficult and divided times, the secretary-general calls on all to heed Ramadan’s enduring message,” his spokesperson said.
He appealed for concrete steps to safeguard the rights and dignity of every person.
Ramadan begins next week and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting and devotion.
From dawn until sunset, believers abstain from food and drink in an act of discipline and faith.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, anchoring spiritual reflection in daily life.
As the crescent moon approaches, Guterres urged nations to answer suffering with mercy and resolve.
