Cabinet yesterday approved assistance to 1,003 victims of the recent flooding in the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, St. Thomas and Portland.

A total of $10.5 million has been earmarked for payment to affected persons, who fall into three categories.

Information Minister Donald Buchanan told journalists at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that individuals whose houses were destroyed by flood waters would receive $30,000; while the owners of houses partially damaged would get $20,000. Residents with minor damage to their houses in the affected parishes will receive $10,000.

"This is an assistance that is being offered by the Government and it is not seeking to accept full responsibility for the restoration of either the houses or household effects for the persons affected," Mr. Buchanan pointed out.

In another decision by Cabinet yesterday, four contracts were approved for the procurement of antiretroviral drugs for treating HIV/AIDS patients.

The contracts, worth a little more than $112.7 million, fall under the Government's Treatment, Preven-tion and Policy Project.

A breakdown of the contracts is as follows: Abbot Laboratories of Puerto Rico $30.1 million; Medigrace Limited of Jamaica $38.7 million; Gilead U.S.A. $22.3 million and Hetero Drugs Limited of India $21.5 million.

The Information Minister said the drugs would enhance the Government's programme of treating persons living with HIV/AIDS.