Airbnb has announced that it will give temporary accommodation to 20,000 Afghan refugees free of charge in order to assist them in resettling in countries across the world.
The company said the decision was in response to "one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time".
Brian Chesky, Chief Executive of Airbnb said:
"I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste. As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives. For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home."
The move will take place promptly and the company stated that it collaborates 'one the ground' with non-governmental organisations to assist the most vulnerable among the refugees.
For how long housing will be available for refugees or how much is going to be spent on the initiative has not been specified yet.
However, the company has said that it collaborates with resettlement agencies 'to go where the need goes' and develop the operation as necessary.
Chesky tweeted on Tuesday:
"Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free. While we will be paying for these stays, we could not do this without the generosity of our hosts."
Funding to cover the cost of stays will be provided partly by contributions from Airbnb and partly by donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.
Chesky said:
"The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time."
More details regarding how people can help are expected to be released soon.
The company stated:
"We know that Airbnb hosts and guests around the world will be eager to stand up and assist this massive effort - and in the coming days, Airbnb and Airbnb.org plan to share details on how hosts and the broader community can support this initiative."
Owners of property on Airbnb have been encouraged to provide free stays for 'people in crisis'.
The donation scheme originally started in 2012, in response to Hurricane Sandy, where over 1,000 people needed accommodation. The company caims that, since then, over 75,000 people have been helped through the scheme. In 2017, Airbnb also launched the Open Homes scheme which allows hosts to offer free stays at their homes to victims of conflict or disaster.
Free stays offered through Airbnb included those affected by the Mexico City earthquake, Californian wildfires, Australian bushfires and other disasters.
Over the past few weeks, the company has given emergency funding to the International Rescue Committee, HIAS and Church World Service, offering temporary stays free of charge to 1,000 Afghan refugees.
So far, more than 165 refugees have been housed after their arrival in the US.
President of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, stated:
"Accessible housing is urgently needed and essential."
[h/t: BBC]
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