United Nations, Jan 15 (IANS) India has made a cash donation of $500,000 in assistance to Benin, the west African nation that suffered devastation in massive floods since late last year.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri Friday handed over a cheque for the amount in New York to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Benin to the UN, Jean-Francis R. Zinsou.

"The government and people of India received with deep sorrow and sadness the news about the heavy devastation caused by huge floods in the friendly nation of Benin since late last year," the Indian mission to the UN stated.

"India condoled the loss of lives and property suffered and expressed solidarity with the people of Benin" and "in response to a request from the government of the Republic of Benin, India decided to make a cash donation of US$ 500,000."

Flooding due to rains in October last year destroyed more than 100,000 homes and affected around 600,000 people in Benin that has a population of more than 8 million.

According to an estimate, around 12,000 tonnes of food stock was damaged in the flood which also affected more than 100,000 hactares of farm land.