Sensoa, La Fédération Laïque des Centres de Planning Familial, Le Planning Familial, and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) call on the Belgian government to continue negotiations to save the remaining contraceptive supplies in Geel. These organizations are also asking that there be no (further) cuts to international cooperation and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights. The latter demand is also directed at European policymakers.
20 shipments of contraceptives lost
The damage caused by Trump's war on women appears to be greater than expected: in addition to the already known stock of contraceptives, stored correctly in a warehouse in Geel (4 truckloads worth $9.7 million), it is now confirmed there are another 20 truckloads at an unknown location in Kallo. The conditions of the medical products in the trucks are not controlled, and most of it has already likely become unusable. This is evident from the response of Flemish Minister of the Environment Jo Brouns to a parliamentary question from Mieke Schauvliege, Flemish member of parliament for Groen.
As a reminder, since President Trump dismantled USAID, the US Agency for International Development, he has wanted to burn a stockpile of contraceptives stored in Belgium. These supplies were intended for women in 13 countries in total: destination countries include DR Congo, Tanzania, Haiti, Mali & Kenya among other places, many of which are already facing severe humanitarian crises. The Belgian government has since been in negotiations with the US government to save this stockpile. The human cost of the lost stockpile is great and will impact the lives of thousands of women.
President Trump will have millions of deaths on his conscience
Not only is Trump's policy deliberately cruel and morally reprehensible, it is also a waste of useful (contraceptive) resources and therefore millions of dollars. This is the result of politicians deciding to abruptly cut back on international cooperation, which rolls back the progress made over de past years. The discontinuation of USAID will cause 14 million deaths worldwide by 2030, including 4.5 million children under the age of five.
European governments must not cut back on international solidarity
It is clear that budget cuts have a major impact on women’s health. Voices are now growing louder at the European level to also cut back on international cooperation, including SRHR. So instead of trying to fill the gap the US is leaving, European governments are making it even bigger.
The Belgian government has plans to cut back on international solidarity by 25%. Belgian press is reporting that these cuts could be increased even further. This would further widen the gap already created by Trump. SRHR organisations does not want any further cuts to international solidarity funding.
"Since the discontinuation of USAID support, it has become much more difficult to continue our services. Our contraceptive supplies are exhausted and new deliveries are sporadic. Previously, anyone who wanted to avoid pregnancy could come to us and choose the contraceptive that suited them. Now women have to switch to whatever is available, or we cannot help them."
Dr. Bakari Omary of UMATI, Project Coordinator at Umati, IPPF's Member Association in Tanzania
Practical information and contact information of spokespersons:
More background on the USAID supplies: read our previous statement here, here and here
IPPF EN Media, enpress@ippf.org
Sara Salarkiya, International Policy Advisor at Sensoa
Boris Cruyssaert, Communications, Sensoa
Sarah Durocher, President, Le Planning familial
sarah.durocher@planning-familial.org
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Belgium, United States
