Department of Defense: Changes Needed to the Humanitarian and Civic
Assistance Program (Letter Report, 11/02/93, GAO/NSIAD-94-57).

GAO reviewed the Defense Department's (DOD) Humanitarian and Civic
Assistance Program, which provides nonlethal assistance for humanitarian
activities.  Since 1985, when Congress first authorized such assistance,
the program has grown rapidly.  Under the program, DOD has provided
foreign countries with excess medical supplies and clothing from its
stocks, helped to rebuild or repair countries' infrastructures,
delivered disaster assistance, and transported food and supplies from
private donor groups to starving people abroad.  GAO recommends that DOD
(1) develop a cost-effective method for providing Congress with a more
reasonable estimate of the costs incurred in providing humanitarian
assistance; (2) issue an implementing directive for conducting
humanitarian and civic assistance activities as required by the law,
which would clarify DOD's authority to engage in humanitarian assistance
and would set a dollar threshold for minimum assistance provided under
title 10 legislation; (3) ensure that projects contribute to U.S.
foreign policy objectives and have the full support of the host country
involved; and (4) ensure that commands are evaluating the effectiveness
of the projects.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  NSIAD-94-57
     TITLE:  Department of Defense: Changes Needed to the Humanitarian 
             and Civic Assistance Program
      DATE:  11/02/93
   SUBJECT:  Interagency relations
             International cooperation
             International relations
             Disaster relief aid
             Foreign aid programs
             Foreign military assistance
             Federal aid to foreign countries
             Program evaluation
             Military materiel
             Cost effectiveness analysis
IDENTIFIER:  DOD Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Program
             Panama
             Honduras
             Latin America
             
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