The United States will destroy reproductive health supplies originally meant as assistance, leading to criticism from various international reproductive rights groups. These advocates claim that the government is wasting essential contraceptives instead of allowing their distribution in needy regions. Despite offers from humanitarian organizations to take over the supplies for redistribution, all alternatives were rejected. The decision results from regulations restricting aid to groups associated with abortions, reflecting an ideologically driven decision that prioritizes ideology over public health and human rights, according to advocacy groups.
Reproductive health advocates decried the US decision on Friday, saying that Washington is incinerating life-saving contraceptives rather than handing them to aid groups to distribute them in poorer countries.
The groups said they offered to transport, repack, store and distribute the supplies at no cost to the US government, but their proposal was turned down.
Several advocacy groups including International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Sensoa and Countdown 2030 Europe released a statement calling the US move a cruel and ideologically driven.
The supplies, set to be destroyed in France, are worth $10m, with the destruction costing $167,000, according to a State Department spokesperson.
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