Abidjan, 7 January 2010... The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), on Wednesday, 6 January, started road transportation of births, marriages and deaths registers from Abidjan to various regions in the country.

The transportation and escort of these documents, which weigh an estimated 26.86 tons, is being provided by UNOCI's Pakistani battalion. The operation is part of the Mission's support to the electoral process and follows a request from the Ministry of Justice.

Nine trucks mobilized for the occasion went from the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice in Abidjan to areas in the Lagunes, N'zi Comoé, Agnéby, Zanzan, Dix-huit Montagnes and Denguélé regions. The packages will be handed over to the prefects in the regions.

The transportation of the births, marriages and deaths registers will end on Saturday, 9 January 2010.