MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB will help poor households affected by the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan to begin restoring their livelihoods through a grant of 5 million U.S. dollars, an ADB report said on Tuesday.

    The grant will target between 8,000 and 10,000 poor and vulnerable households in the largely inaccessible earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan, according to the report.

    In coordination with government agencies and non-government organizations, the project will provide households living at higher altitudes with material for the cultivation of spring crops, such as maize, fodder, and vegetables.

    Landless community members will be given small amounts of livestock and poultry, including shelters and feeds.

    In addition, small-scale facilities, such as drinking water supplies, will be rehabilitated as needed.

    The project complements ADB's Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project, which was backed by an assistance package comprising a loan of 220 million U.S. dollars and a grant of 80 million U.S. dollars approved in December 2005.

    The October 2005 earthquake, arguably the most debilitating natural disaster in Pakistan's history, affected about 3.5 million people. About 80 percent of the population in the affected areas remains homeless. Enditem