Airbnb has promised to house 20,000 refugees globally.
With thousands of people scrambling to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country, the online rental platform Airbnb said it will provide free housing to 20,000 displaced Afghan refugees to help them settle around the world.
CEO Brian Chesky wrote on Twitter and said:
“The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere are one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up,”
He added:
“I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There’s no time to waste.”
Last week, Airbnb.org gave emergency funding along with support to the International Rescue Committee, HIAS and Church World Service to provide immediate temporary stays through the Airbnb platform for up to 1,000 arriving Afghan refugees.
Over the weekend, the company worked with several partners to place 165 refugees in housing shortly after they arrived in the United States.
“As the IRC helps to welcome and resettle Afghans in the U.S., accessible housing is urgently needed and essential,” said David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee.
Within the last four years, both Airbnb and Airbnb.org have provided roughly 25,000 refugees with temporary housing. In June, Airbnb.org announced plans for a $25 million refugee fund to expand its support of refugees and asylum-seekers further worldwide.