Airbnb is a mobile service that connects people who need to rent a house or place to stay with those who want to rent. The renter just needs to enter the desired location, confirm, and the address of the apartment will be sent to them. Recently, this service, often likened to the Uber of the hotel industry, announced that it will temporarily take on the responsibility of providing accommodation for 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, to help them resettle globally.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said the move was in response to “one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time.” He added that his company had a responsibility to speed up the refugee process and that he “hopes this will inspire other business leaders to do the same. There is no time to waste.”
"Tens of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan are embarking on a resettlement journey around the world, and accommodation is 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 anew, but also a warm and welcoming home," Brian shared.
The free relief package was immediately deployed on August 24, with all costs covered by Airbnb, but it is not clear how long the refugees will be housed. The company said it is working with NGOs around the world to help address the most urgent needs.
"While Airbnb pays for the entire service, we couldn't do this without the generosity and kindness of hosts all over the world," Brian posted on Twitter.
The costs will be covered by donations from Airbnb itself and from donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.
