On the Foreign Scene
The International Planned Parenthood Federation has condemned a US government decision to incinerate 9.7 million dollars worth of contraceptives, many not set to expire until 2029.
Over 77% of the supplies were bound for the DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Mali , where they could have reached 1.4 million women and girls.
The move is expected to cause 174,000 unintended pregnancies and 56,000 unsafe abortions.
US officials say they could not send the products due to laws banning aid to groups linked to abortion services. Rights groups call the decision wasteful and dangerous, warning it will deepen maternal health crises in affected countries.