Belgium has urged the United States not to destroy a stockpile of millions of euros worth of women’s contraceptives bound for African countries, the foreign minister said on Friday.
The contraceptives were purchased by the US foreign aid agency USAID under former president Joe Biden to be provided to women in some of the world’s poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
But Donald Trump’s administration, which is dismantling USAID, confirmed last month it intends to destroy the contraceptives being stored in a Belgian warehouse, sparking outcry among NGOs and women’s groups.
“We continue through diplomatic channels to vigorously advocate against such waste,” Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said.
According to several media reports, the unexpired products – still US property – were to be incinerated in France at the end of July by a company that specialises in destroying medical waste.
“I was informed this was unfounded information,” Prévot said.
“There are stocks worth several million euros, including contraceptives initially intended for Africa, that are still on Belgian soil,” he added.
A portion of the products, such as implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), had been moved from the initial warehouse and poor storage conditions could potentially impair their quality, Prévot warned.
Belgian officials have been “offended” by the situation for several weeks, according to the minister.
“Whether here at the US embassy or directly in Washington, we have intervened to say, ‘Okay, you are changing your policy, we regret it, but please at least allow what has already been purchased to reach the appropriate recipients’,” he said.
Last month, the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) called on the French government to seize the stock if it crossed the border. According to several sources, it is worth an estimated $10 million.
(cp)
