TASHKENT, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Uzbekistan's Ministry of Emergency Situations has delivered 20 wagons of humanitarian aid to its Central Asian neighbor Tajikistan, a ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Heavy rains, which hit Tajikistan in early April, have left 23 people dead and 10,000 people homeless. Rains have affected some 40 towns and districts across the region, destroying 40,000 hectares of crops, 160 km of roads and 40 bridges.

The humanitarian aid sent by Uzbekistan consists of 1,200 tons of cement, 2,400 plaster board, 550 square meters of construction glass, 20 tons of flour and tents.

"This is the first aid Tajikistan has received," Tajikistan's minister of economic development, Ghulomjon Bobozoda, said. "This once again highlights that a neighbor helps a neighbor in need and I want to say that this is a sign of great historic friendship," he said.

The mountainous country is experiencing shortages of construction materials, fuel, food, medicines and other essential goods. Tajikistan has requested aid from the United Nations and other international organizations.

The Tajik government has estimated the total damage at over $100 million.