The world’s biggest humanitarian organisation is considering cutting staff and shelving projects as it braces for recession-hit donors to slash aid contributions.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Tuesday launched an appeal for SFr265m ($220m) for the coming year. It warned of greater social unrest in poor countries as high food prices were compounded by slowing economic growth, job losses and falling revenues from the commodities and remittances on which they are highly dependent.