The crisis in Egypt is no longer just political. The most populated country in the Arab world is in troubled economic times, which is leading to food shortages.

The United Nations has warned that civil unrest in Egypt and dwindling foreign exchange reserves could lead to serious food security concerns.

A former minister under ousted President Mursi has backed this up, telling Reuters news agency that Egypt has less than two months supply of imported wheat left in its stocks. Bassem Ouda said the state had just 500,000 tonnes of imported wheat left. The country normally imports around 10 million tonnes a year.

Egypt is the world’s largest importer of wheat. It distributes half of it as subsidised bread to its population of 84 million.

Political turmoil in the country has kept investors and tourists away, leading to an economic crisis which has made it hard for governments to keep up imports of food and fuel.