00:00The Trump administration has reportedly ordered the destruction of nearly $10 million in birth control pills and other contraceptives intended for people in impoverished nations.
00:12The pills, intrauterine devices, and hormonal implants were purchased by the U.S. Agency for International Development before it was largely shuttered earlier this year.
00:23Citing a USAID spokesperson, the New York Times reported the items have already been destroyed.
00:28But officials in Belgium now tell Reuters the destruction has yet to happen and the products remain in a warehouse.
00:34The products have been in storage in Belgium for months.
00:38The Trump administration argues the incineration is necessary because these contraceptives are not life-saving.
00:44And the United States has decided it will stop buying birth control products to be distributed in impoverished countries.
00:51Internal documents obtained by the Times show that several groups, including the Gates Foundation and Children's Investment Fund Foundation, offered to buy or take the contraceptives as donations.
01:03Belgium's government has also attempted to halt the destruction of the items.
01:07A Trump administration spokesperson also tells the Times the products could have been used to induce abortions.
01:13But an analysis by the news organization revealed no items were capable of inducing abortions.
01:19An official with an international non-governmental organization that provides contraceptives and abortion services in 37 countries condemned the ordered destruction, saying the decision will cost lives.
01:31Belgium officials say an inspection of the warehouse where the items are stored showed no shipments have been removed for destruction.
01:38They say a request from the U.S. for incineration would be needed to destroy the products.
01:43But that has not yet happened.
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