Food price increases caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine might kill “millions” of people worldwide, Egypt’s finance minister has warned, repeating UN and G7 fears about a global wheat crisis.

In an interview with the Financial Times in London, Mohamed Maait voiced alarm about “food insecurity” throughout the world while asserting that Egypt had enough wheat to last till the end of the year.

Ukraine and Russia are among the largest producers and exporters of wheat, corn, and cooking oil, all of which have been endangered since Russia’s invasion on February 24.

“This is something we must be very cautious about,” Maait added. “We will be ashamed if we discover that millions of people are dying as a result of food insecurity. They are not to blame because they did nothing wrong.”

Maait’s remarks came just days after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Ukraine conflict might lead to the deaths of “tens of millions.”

“Global hunger levels are at a new high,” said Guterres. In addition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are the issues of climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, which have compounded a crisis that could last for years, he warned.

Last week, G7 countries launched a “Global Alliance for Food Security” with the World Bank, to coordinate a short-term response that would avert famine.