The US authorities have asked Canada to send beds, blankets, gloves and other medical supplies to the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina, officials said on Sunday.

"We're certainly going to be looking at possibly supplying more to them as the situation evolves," said Howard Njoo of Canada's Public Health Agency.

The Americans also requested gowns, batteries, needles, surgical dressings, bandages, tongue depressors, bath towels and cloths, Nioo said, adding that Canada might eventually send a mobile hospital to the affected area.

Canadian government officials also said they would start dispatching 35 divers Sunday to help with the massive rescue effort. One of the divers' tasks would be to inspect levees.

Canada is also planing to send four ships with emergency supplies and disaster specialists next week. It has promised to pump an extra 91,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the United States to help overcome fuel shortages.

On Saturday, a Canadian air force transport plane flew 27 Red Cross workers to Houston. The Canadian Red Cross said that several hundred volunteers would likely participate in the rescue operation over the next few months.

On Friday, Air Canada sent an aircraft to New Orleans with bottled water and relief supplies. The Air Canada plane will operate shuttle flights to help evacuate people to Texas.

The Canadian Red Cross estimates that so far Canadians have donated over one million Canadian dollars (about 830,000 US dollars) to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Source: Xinhua