Aftermath of the earthquake in Italy
Aftermath of the earthquake in ItalyReuters

Italy’s umbrella Jewish organization and the Rome Jewish community have set up a blood donation center to aid victims of the deadly earthquake that hit central Italy early Wednesday morning, JTA reports.

Noemi Di Segni, the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), issued a statement saying Italy’s Jews expressed full solidarity with the quake victims and were ready to mobilize “in a concrete and immediate way to confront the current state of emergency.”

The blood center initiative was organized in collaboration with the Jewish Medical Association and an association of Jewish blood donors, according to JTA.

Wednesday morning's 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed more than 159 people and injured 368, with still more unaccounted for and potentially buried under the rubble of toppled buildings.

There are no Jewish communities in the affected region, noted JTA.

After a deadly earthquake hit the town of L’Aquila in 2009, the Italian Jewish community launched an appeal to its members for aid and offered the services of the Jewish hospital in Rome and other health facilities.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the people of Italy over the victims of the earthquake and wished a quick recovery for the injured. He offered search and rescue assistance to his Italian counterpart, Prime Minister Mateo Renzi.

President Reuven Rivlin sent a letter of condolence to his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.

"Our thoughts are with you and the people of Italy at this very difficult time as you seek to help the injured, give shelter to those made homeless, and plan the reconstruction," Rivlin wrote his Italian counterpart.

On behalf of the citizens of Israel he asked, "Please convey our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, and our hopes that the region will soon experience a happier future."