Airbnb to allow free accommodation to Afghan refugees

Airbnb to allow free accommodation to Afghan refugees

Amid the worsening humanitarian crisis emanating from the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, vacation rental company Airbnb pledged to house 20,000 Afghan refugees for free. In a series of tweets, Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, announced the company’s decision to host the Afghan refugees, hoping other business leaders get inspiration to do the same.

“Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free,” tweeted Chesky, adding that they could not do this without “the generosity of our Hosts.”

Tens of thousands of people have been attempting to leave Afghanistan in recent days after the country’s capital, Kabul, fell to the Taliban. Many Afghans have come to the airport in Kabul in hopes of departing on evacuation flights operated by the United States and other governments.

NGOs, religious groups and local governments in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries have pledged to help Afghan refugees. Chesky called on the business community to follow suit.

The UN agency has also called on the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to keep their borders open in the wake of the evolving humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

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