Summary

Since the 1991 overthrow of Haiti's president, the United States has been involved in a variety of efforts to interdict, detain, process, and repatriate Haitian asylum seekers and to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti. The U.S. government has also participated in the Organization of American States (OAS) trade embargo against Haiti and has contributed to the OAS/UN Observer Mission. U.S. government agencies spent or earmarked about $211 million for Haitian-related activities between October 1, 1991, and March 31, 1993, and will incur an additional $14 million by September 30, 1993. Most of the money is being spent on such items as travel, food, medical supplies, tents, vehicle maintenance, and overtime pay. In most cases, these costs are incremental--those over and above normal operating costs--and usually exclude such expenses as regular salaries, which would be paid regardless of the activities in which the employees were engaged.

GAO found that: (1) the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard have incurred $59.12 million and $24.51 million in costs for patrolling the waters surrounding Haiti; (2) the Agency for International Development has spent over $69 million during the Haiti crisis for humanitarian assistance; (3) Haitians seeking asylum in the United States have received $34.2 million in Department of Health and Human Services-funded services; and (4) the State Department has contributed $6 million to support civilian observers, assist in the restoration of democratic constitutional order, and monitor human rights conditions in Haiti.