Department of Defense: Weaknesses in Humanitarian and Civic Assistance
Programs (Testimony, 04/19/94, GAO/T-NSIAD-94-158).

The Defense Department's (DOD) Humanitarian and Civic Assistance program
oversees donations of excess military property and supplies, coordinates
civic assistance and disaster assistance, and transports food and
supplies from private donors to foreign countries.  At least 117
countries have received equipment and supplies under the program.  In
fiscal year 1993, National Guard units from 29 states traveled to Latin
America to work on civic assistance programs.  The full extent and costs
of the program are unknown, however, because DOD conducts some projects
without State Department approval and does not report all program
expenses. Coordination between the U.S. military and the U.S. embassies
and missions in Panama and Honduras was minimal.  Some DOD projects were
not designed to contribute to foreign policy objectives, did not appear
to enhance U.S. military training, and either lacked host country
support or went unused.  As for oversight, DOD has yet to issue
regulations governing program activities.  In addition, the Southern and
Pacific commands have not systematically evaluated the success of
projects, and program officials have not routinely visited projects to
evaluate their progress.

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

 REPORTNUM:  T-NSIAD-94-158
     TITLE:  Department of Defense: Weaknesses in Humanitarian and Civic 
             Assistance Programs
      DATE:  04/19/94
   SUBJECT:  International cooperation
             Interagency relations
             Foreign military assistance
             Foreign aid programs
             Reporting requirements
             Program evaluation
             Project monitoring
             Surplus federal property
             Military materiel
             Defense operations
IDENTIFIER:  DOD Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Program
             Latin America
             Honduras
             Panama
             
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