Aug 24, 2021 - Economy

Airbnb says it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees

Noah Garfinkel

CEO of airbnb brian chesky sitting in a chair. — Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo: Michael Short/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally starting Tuesday, founder and CEO Brian Chesky tweeted Tuesday.

Why it matters: "The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time," Chesky wrote in a thread. "We feel a responsibility to step up."

Countries and charitable organizations around the world have pledged to help Afghan refugees, as many continue to flee the country in droves, following the Taliban's takeover of the country.
"I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste," Chesky wrote.

Between the lines: The company will be hosting the refugees for free with the help of "NGOs, and partners [sic] orgs on the ground to support the most pressing needs," Chesky said.

Airbnb has housed 75,000 displaced people since 2012 through its Open Homes initiative, according to its website.

What they're saying: Chesky added that the company "could not do this without the generosity of our Hosts."

"If you’re willing to host a refugee family, reach out and I’ll connect you with the right people here to make it happen!"

Go deeper ... "A living hell": Leaked email describes Afghan refugee conditions

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Airbnb says it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees

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