politics

March 19, 2026

Ivana described how she drove 3,000 km from Iraq to Belgrade: She left on a very important date, experienced an unprecedented surprise on the first day, and the second was hellish, here's why

When planes started flying over my building, everything reminded me of 1999 and the bombing of Serbia. Then I made a decision. No more waiting. I'm going on a 3,000-kilometer car trip. From Iraq to Serbia. Alone. With two dogs.

Ivana described how she drove 3,000 km from Iraq to Belgrade: She left on a very important date, experienced an unprecedented surprise on the first day, and the second was hellish, here's why

TL;DR

  • Ivana Vasić drove 3,000 km from Erbil, Iraq, to Belgrade, Serbia, alone with her two dogs.
  • She left on her 39th birthday due to escalating bombings and conflict in Erbil, Iraq.
  • The journey took three days, with the first day covering 800 km and the second 1,200 km.
  • She experienced kindness from strangers during her trip, including a birthday surprise in Gaziantep, Turkey.
  • Vasić had lived in Erbil for eight years, previously returning to Serbia during the pandemic while others left.
  • She describes the situation in Erbil as dangerous, with missiles falling near residential areas.

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