Topline
With thousands of people scrambling to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country, online rental platform Airbnb said it will provide free housing to 20,000 displaced Afghan refugees to help them settle around the world.
Thousands of Afghans rush to the Hamid Karzai International Airport as they try to flee the Afghan ... [+]
Key Facts
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky wrote on Twitter Tuesday that the company felt “a responsibility to step up” and help with “one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time.”
“Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free,” he wrote.
Chesky said Airbnb—which connects would-be renters with would-be landlords—would be paying for the stays and is working closely with organizations on the ground “to support the most pressing needs.”
He thanked the generosity of the hosts involved and asked hosts willing to accommodate a refugee family to “reach out” and contact him.
Crucial Quote
Chesky said he hopes “this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There’s no time to waste.”
Key Background
The waves of people fleeing the Taliban add to millions of Afghan nationals displaced internally or abroad. Around 3.5 million Afghans are estimated by the United Nations to be displaced inside the country. Of those, 270,000 are newly displaced since January, and around 2.6 million are refugees abroad. The situation in Afghanistan has prompted countries around the world to prepare for a huge influx of people seeking asylum and intensified already tense debates in some wealthy countries over what to do. Many countries, particularly NATO members who were engaged in Afghanistan, have committed to welcome refugees, though this is likely to fall far short of the numbers of people seeking asylum. The situation is especially tense in Europe, which is still recovering from division and political crises stoked by an influx of refugees from Syria and Libya. Since the Taliban retook Afghanistan, Greece finished building a wall along part of its border with Turkey over concerns refugees would cross into the European bloc by land.
Tangent
Airbnb encourages its hosts to donate stays at their properties during times of crisis. Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit that works with Airbnb for this purpose, said it has helped 75,000 people find places to stay in times of crisis since 2012.
Further Reading
Will Wealthy Countries Take In Afghan Refugees? Here’s What Europe, Canada And The U.S. Are Doing. (Forbes)
U.S. Aims To Leave Kabul By Next Week As Taliban Vows ‘Consequences’ If Delayed (Forbes)
New Airbnb Hosts Have Earned $1 Billion Since The Pandemic Began (Forbes)
European leaders fear repeat of 2015 crisis with Afghan refugees (FT)
Afghan Refugees Find a Harsh and Unfriendly Border in Turkey (NYT)
