Airbnb has opened the doors of its properties to 20,000 Afghan refugees across the globe. The company has also sought assistance from hosts who rent property through the home-sharing company for more free housing for those fleeing the crisis. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky took to Twitter, writing: “Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free.
“The di*placement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest hu!anita*ian cri-ses of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky took to Twitter, writing: “Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free.
Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) August 24, 2021
“The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest hu!anitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up. The UN Refugee Agency said last month that an estimated 270,000 Afghans had been newly displaced inside the country since January – primarily due to i!security and violence – bringing the total uprooted population to more than 3.5 million.
People in Afghanistan are being forc-ed to flee the country as the Taliban seize power for the first time since the late 1990s. During a pr-ess conference in Kabul, a Taliban spo*esperson said no evacua*ions will be permitted after the 31 August d**dline. Zabihullah Mujahid said: “August 31 is the time given and after that it’s something that is a!ainst the agreement. All people should be removed p*ior to that date.
“After that we do not allow them, it will not be allowed in our country, we will take a different stance.” Airbnb has a history of making free shelter to those in need. Since 2012, Airbnb.org has housed 75,000 people fleeing or responding to a crisis, from Covid-19 health workers and earthquake or fire evacuees or responders, to refugees.
Hosts are allowed to sign up for the programme through Airbnb.org. Airbnb operates in approximately 100,000 cities in almost every country and region across the world.