Louis Michel, the European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said Tuesday that he would travel to Gaza and Israel on Sunday for a two-day mission amidst the current ceasefire.

"Getting the humanitarian aid through to the people that need it most remains the top priority," said Michel who met with Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit in Brussels late Monday.

"My humanitarian mission will allow me to see for myself the suffering of the civilian populations in both Gaza and southern Israel," Michel said.

Michel, who welcomed the ceasefire now in place between Israel and Hamas, described his meeting with Sheetrit as "constructive" and said they both recognized that "increased humanitarian access and delivery was needed urgently."

"In this respect, the setting up of fast-track procedures for humanitarian access and delivery should be considered a priority. I also hope my visit to the region can underscore the importance the European Commission gives to meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian populations there,” Michel said.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is the largest donor to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency with an overall annual regular contribution of 113 million euros (158.2 million dollars) in 2008.

In addition, the European Commission provided more than 73 million euros (102.2 million dollars) in humanitarian assistance in 2008 for victims of the ongoing crisis in the Palestinian territories, of which 56 percent was for relief activities in the Gaza Strip.

Over the past few weeks alone, the commission has provided more than 10 million euros (14 million dollars) in additional humanitarian aid in a direct response to the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)