In pictures: Loved ones from across the Middle East welcomed home from Ukraine

More than one-and-a-half million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion on 24 February, which has plunged Russia into economic isolation as western nations seek to punish President Vladimir Putin. The refugees have included many from across the Middle East.

Parents hug their son at Beirut airport, Lebanon, on 2 March 2022. He had fled to Romania following Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Reuters)

Almost 250 Tunisians travelled 1,000km from eastern Ukraine into neighbouring Romania to flee Russian bombardment. Here, some disembark from a plane upon their arrival at Tunis airport on 2 March 2022 (Reuters)

The Tunisian government gathered its staff from embassies across eastern Europe and deployed them at each border crossing to receive incoming students and facilitate their repatriation.

A Tunisian who fled to Poland following Russia's invasion of Ukraine is welcomed by a relative on arrival at Tunis airport, 2 March 2022 (Reuters)

Nearly 2,000 Palestinian students with Israeli citizenship were stranded in Ukraine when the war broke out. 

Family members wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv for Palestinian citizens of Israel arriving from Ukraine, via the border with Romania, on an Israeli Israir Airlines rescue flight, on 1 March 2022 (AFP)

Many of the Israelis repatriated this week were members of the 48 Palestinian minority, that is those who live within the borders of the state founded in 1948, who make up 20 percent of the population.

Palestinian citizens of Israel arriving from Ukraine, via the border with Romania, on an Israir rescue flight are welcomed by a relative upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, on 1 March 2022 (AFP)

Ukraine has been popular with foreign students who want a relatively cheap education overseas.

A Moroccan student studying in Ukraine and fleeing the war meets relatives after arriving at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca on 2 March 2022 (AFP)

Ukrainian government data shows 76,000 students from 155 nations were enrolled in its universities.

A Moroccan student studying in Ukraine and fleeing the war arrives with her cat at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca on 2 March 2022 (AFP)