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Airbnb is a mobile service that connects people looking to rent homes and accommodations with those who want to rent out their properties. Those looking to rent simply enter their desired location, confirm, and the address of the property will be sent to them. Recently, this service, often likened to the Uber of the hospitality industry, announced it will temporarily take on the responsibility of providing accommodation for 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, helping them resettle globally.
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, said this was a response to "one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time." He added that his company had a responsibility to expedite the processing of refugees and that he "hopes this will inspire other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste."
"Tens of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan are embarking on resettlement journeys around the world, and shelter will be the starting point of this journey. I hope that the Airbnb community will not only provide these 20,000 people with a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm and welcoming home for them," Brian shared.
This free relief package was immediately rolled out on August 24th, with all costs covered by Airbnb; however, it is unclear how long the refugees will be able to stay. The company said it is working with NGOs globally to help address the most urgent needs.
"Although Airbnb pays for the entire service, we couldn't do this without the generosity and kindness of hosts from all over the world," Brian posted on his Twitter account.
The costs will be covered by contributions from Airbnb itself and from donors who contribute to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.
