Syrian refugee Asmaa Al Fashtaki's journey to Cardiff

Syrian Asmaa Al Fashtaki, 29, arrived in the UK last November, five months pregnant, in the back of a lorry.

She is now settled in Cardiff with her baby boy - but is separated from her husband, who is still in Jordan.

This is the story of how she ended up here after a journey by air, sea, rail and road to flee bombing and unrest in her home city.

DARAA, SYRIA May 2011

Asmaa worked in childcare and was studying for a masters degree in social science. Her fiance - now her husband - worked in the civil service for the police. But he was under pressure from the Free Syrian Army to join up with them.

Her family's neighbourhood was being targeted by bombs and they were in constant fear of threats, kidnap, imprisonment.

"My house was being bombed - from both sides - so we decided to leave the area, and the family all went in different directions," she said.

After trying a safer area, this was also targeted and she and her fiance got married and flew to Jordan.

JORDAN, 2011-November 2014

The couple lived in the Zattary refugee camp for four months before renting, But her husband was not allowed to work and had to surrender his passport.

The couple felt under pressure to return to Syria. Asmaa became pregnant and took the "very hard decision" to leave her husband behind to find safety.

She flew to Turkey on 5 November but this was only the start of a journey across five countries.

TURKEY, 5-14 November 2014

Asmaa spent 10 days in Turkey before selling jewellery to help pay 4,000 US dollars for a place on a ship.

All she took with her was a small bag with her passport.

Before she could board the ship she faced a treacherous journey by boat with 75 other refugees, taking three hours.

It was only 20m long and they were very tightly packed in; Asmaa was five months pregnant and unwell with flu and morning sickness.

They transferred onto a ship which was already packed with around 850 refugees for a six-day crossing to Italy.

Most of the refugees were packed into the cargo hold but Asmaa was given a berth with three other pregnant women.

Food and water supplies were limited to minimise their need for the toilet and to avoid seasickness.

ITALY

When they reached the Italian coast, the ship's captain dropped anchor and escaped on the ship's life-raft, leaving the refugees alone at sea.

After two days, the ship was eventually towed to shore and the refugees allowed off.

There were fears for Asmaa's baby so she was airlifted to hospital. She then spent a short time in a refugee camp in Italy, before taking a train to Rome.

"We were taken to a refugee camp - they told us it was our decision - do you want to stay or go. It took 22 hours to reach Rome."

Asmaa wanted to reach the UK where she felt she would be safest.

"They had a refugee camp in Rome and they didn't put any pressure on us, so I decided to leave Italy and take the train to France," she said.

FRANCE

Asmaa stayed for four days in Paris before paying a fixer 1,200 euros to get on a lorry to the UK.

There were abortive attempts before she and six men were smuggled onto a lorry, which travelled to Calais.

"We were told we weren't allowed to eat or drink as we were going to be on a lorry for 10 hours. The journey started at 3am."

KENT, ENGLAND

When the lorry driver discovered the stowaways in Kent, he ordered them off the vehicle and drove away.

Asmaa went straight to a police station to ask for help.

She was taken to Croydon, where she stayed for 10 days.

She told immigration officers that her sister had managed to escape to London but she was dispersed to Cardiff instead.

CARDIFF, WALES

Asmaa stayed in various different places in Cardiff - a hostel initially, then with friends from the Syrian community.

She now has leave to remain in the UK and has her own flat in a hostel complex, with a small living room and kitchen, and is more settled.

Her baby son, Nabil, was born at the University Hospital of Wales in April.

"I've had the full support of the Welsh people - they're very nice people and very helpful," she said.

Asmaa has applied for her husband to come to the UK to join her. She has daily contact with him and he can see his son via the internet.