"It's time to turn up the volume for peace and silence the guns. The holy month of Ramadan will begin in just a few days, Mr. Guterres said the 15-member UN Security Council on Thursday.
The World Food Programme's Cindy McCain issued a warning the previous day that the Sudanese conflict "risks triggering the world's largest hunger crisis," and that's when the UN chief made her appeal.
The UN agency reports that severe hunger affects 18 million people in Sudan, with the most vulnerable being stuck behind the front lines.
It stated that five million of them are starving.
Mr. Guterres declared, "The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is reaching colossal proportions." "Some 25 million people, half the population, need life-saving assistance."
Britain sent out a draft resolution, which The National was able to view, endorsing the Secretary General's appeal for a ceasefire and urging all sides to remove barriers in the way of "full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access," including across Sudan's borders and across combat lines.
Before the council meeting, James Kariuki, the UK's deputy ambassador, informed reporters that the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese military are to blame for the "horrendous situation."
"Both sides continue to shell and target densely populated metropolitan areas. For this reason, he told reporters, "We have presented a Security Council resolution urging all parties to allow for unhindered cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access and calling for an immediate ceasefire before the holy month of Ramadan."
He expressed his expectation that Friday will see a vote on the resolution by the council.
In addition, the proposal calls on all members to support efforts towards a lasting peace rather than engage in "external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability."
Mr. Guterres issued a warning, stating that the nation's human rights situation is getting out of control.
This year, Ramadan is anticipated to start on March 11 or 12.
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