Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the: (1) organizations delivering assistance to refugees around the world; and (2) living conditions of those refugees.

GAO found that: (1) United Nations agencies, host governments, and many voluntary or nongovernmental organizations all played complementary roles in providing care and assistance to refugees; (2) except for isolated pockets, refugees generally received the minimum care necessary to sustain life; (3) living conditions and provisions for refugee assistance varied widely from location to location; and (4) the host countries and agencies providing assistance often faced such major obstacles as long supply chains over difficult terrain, poor road conditions, and rainy weather in delivering aid.