The women's rights campaigner who fled the Taliban - and is off study in Wales

A women's rights campaigner has recalled her journey fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan to arriving safely in the United Kingdom.

Arefa Shafaei arrived in the UK on Tuesday and spoke to ITV's Good Morning Britain about the pain of leaving her family behind.

"Mentally I am not in a good state. I am so worried about my family and my people there. My family are trying to hide themselves because of the threat of the Taliban."

Thousands of people have tried to flee the country since the Taliban took hold Credit: PA

The UK's evacuation from Afghanistan has entered its final stages and no more people will be called forward to the airport for evacuation, the Ministry of Defence has said.

It comes a day after twin bomb attacks in Kabul left at least 100 people dead.

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The 29-year-old campaigner is part of the Chevening scholarship which allows people from all over the world to develop and study in the UK. Arefa has accepted an offer from Swansea University to study international law.

She was allowed to bring her sister with her but the rest of her family have been left behind and are now in hiding.

"When I said goodbye to my family, I was not hopeful I would see them again because of the situation."

Arefa Shafaei told ITV News last week that she feared for her life and did not believe that she would make it to the UK. But, she has now made it along with other students thanks to help from the British Embassy and they are now quarantining at Birmingham airport.

Crowds of people have gathered at checkpoints near the airport trying to flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Credit: PA

Arefa also recalled the difficulties she faced trying to battle her way through the thousands of people in Kabul who have spent days waiting at the airport trying to flee.

"It was very hard for us to get through the airport. We made it inside after 24 hours. It was impossible without help from the British Army and also the Afghan people who were trying to help get us inside.

"There were so many people pushing each other so when I got inside the airport, I thought it was a miracle because for a woman like me who is not very strong, it's so hard to get inside.

"People were trying to push me away, I was so afraid that they would beat me so finally we did it with the help of the British Army."

Arefa will be studying international law at Swansea University

Arefa said that she wanted to use the opportunity she had been given to raise her voice and study "for my country".

She added, "It was so so hard for me, but I'm here to work hard and to study well and I'm hoping to get my country back from the Taliban.

"Now I have a different responsibility, I'm not working for my personal dream; I'm working for my country and I'm studying for my country."