Global Outrage as US Plans Destruction of $10 Million in Contraceptives Intended for Poor Nations

International Desk: A controversial decision by the US administration to destroy $9.7 million worth of contraceptives—originally intended for distribution in impoverished regions such as sub-Saharan Africa—has prompted fierce global condemnation from aid organizations, medical professionals, and political leaders.

The contraceptives, including long-acting IUDs and birth control implants, are currently stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, with incineration scheduled in France by the end of July. The move is reportedly tied to the termination of Biden-era USAID contracts following the return of President Donald Trump to office earlier this year.

A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that “a preliminary decision was made to destroy certain contraceptive products,” and clarified that no condoms or HIV medications would be affected. The incineration process is expected to cost $167,000.

Political and Ideological Underpinnings
This move is reportedly driven by the reimplementation of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule”, which prohibits funding to organizations involved in abortion services or advocacy. The policy, originally enacted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, has been reinstated under each Republican presidency, including Trump’s.

The US Senate has also approved an $8 billion cut to international aid, significantly affecting USAID programs. Research suggests these reductions could result in the deaths of up to 14 million people by 2030 due to limited access to essential health services.

The State Department claimed that the products were nearing expiry; however, media reports contradict this, stating most of the contraceptives have expiration dates between April 2027 and September 2031.

Rejected Offers and Diplomatic Pushback
Several humanitarian groups, including MSI Reproductive Choices and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), offered to purchase, repurpose, and distribute the contraceptives at no cost to the US government, yet their proposals were repeatedly rejected.

The Belgian government has initiated diplomatic discussions with the US Embassy in Brussels and is exploring alternative solutions to prevent the destruction, including temporary relocation options.

International Reactions
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) criticized the destruction as “the epitome of waste, fraud, and abuse.”

The IPPF called it an “intentional act of reproductive coercion”.

Doctors Without Borders condemned it as a “callous waste” of vital health resources.

Sarah Shaw, MSI’s Advocacy Director, labeled it “an ideological assault on reproductive rights that is already harming women.”

In France, Green Party leader Marine Tondelier signed an open letter urging President Emmanuel Macron to stop the incineration, arguing:

“Our country cannot be complicit, even indirectly, in retrograde policies.”

France, which recently enshrined abortion rights in its constitution, now faces moral pressure to block the incineration scheduled on its soil. The French presidency has declined to comment.

A Broader Pattern of Aid Destruction
Earlier this month, the US also destroyed 500 metric tons of high-nutrition biscuits intended for malnourished children in Afghanistan and Pakistan, fueling further criticism of what many see as a systemic dismantling of humanitarian efforts under the current US leadership.