Italy is ready to do its part in the relief operations in the quake-struck island of Haiti, Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday, according to ANSA news agency.

A first emergency aid cargo is to be sent to Haiti by the end of Wednesday containing food, medicines, tents and other important supplies. On board the flight will also be a team from Italy's civil protection department assigned to make a first-hand evaluation on the immediate needs of the Haitian population.

The sources added that Italy is ready to work with its European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) partners to help the victims of the devastating natural calamity which has hit the Caribbean country. The Italian government decided to respond to a financial appeal of support from the UN.

Thousands of people are feared dead from Tuesday's earthquake which measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale and practically razed the country's capital Port-au-Prince.

At present there are no reports of any deaths or serious injuries among the Italians living in Haiti. However, the Foreign Ministry warned that "the lack of information does not mean that there are no victims."

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, currently in the middle of a week-long African tour, is in constant contact with his ministry's crisis center that is monitoring events in the Caribbean island.

The crisis unit is closely working with the Italian embassy in the neighboring Dominican Republic, which is also responsible for Haiti, as well as with emergency units in other EU countries.

The goal is to "draw up an up-to-date and realistic picture of the situation, still very confused and constantly changing," crisis unit chief Fabrizio Romano said.

The ministry has set up a special phone line to offer available information to relatives of Italians who may be in Haiti. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, on behalf of the Italian people, has sent a message of condolences and support to his Haitian counterpart Rene Preval.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2010)