New York

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Friday's airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition against a detention center in Yemen's Saada city.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Friday that the death toll in an airstrike launched by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on a temporary prison in Yemen has risen to 77. 

An airstrike on telecommunications facilities in Hodeidah has also significantly disrupted vital internet services across much of Yemen, added the spokesman, said Stephane Dujarric, the secretary-general's spokesman, in a statement.

"The secretary-general reminds all parties that attacks directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law. He further reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure that civilians are protected against the dangers arising from military operations, adhering to the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution," said the statement.

Guterres called for prompt, effective, and transparent investigations into these incidents to ensure accountability, and for urgent de-escalation of the situation, it said.

The secretary-general urged the parties to engage with his special envoy for Yemen to advance the political process and to reach a negotiated settlement to end the conflict in Yemen, it said.

Guterres also urged donors and all other stakeholders to enable humanitarian relief efforts with adequate funding, access and other support, said the statement.