This Briefing Paper draws on the findings of an ODI study on the Gulf crisis. The study assessed the effects of the crisis and considered the response to it by the international community. Two conclusions stand out. One is the large number and wide range of developing countries that have been severely affected by the crisis. Second, while there has been a considerable response to the crisis, the distribution of assistance has been highly selective. Some countries have been almost over-compensated while others have received little help.