Thread: Airbnb To House 20,000 Afghan Refugees After Biden's Botched Pullout

Airbnb To House 20,000 Afghan Refugees After Biden's Botched Pullout

August 24, 2021

Tyler Durden

Airbnb on Tuesday announced that it will provide free, temporary accommodation around the world to approximately 20,000 refugees forced to flee Afghanistan in the wake of President Biden's botched military withdrawal, which allowed the Taliban to topple the government within a matter of days.





"The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time," tweeted Airbnb co-founder and head of community, Ben Chesky, who added that the company couldn't do this 'without the generosity of our hosts.'


"We feel a responsibility to step up," he added.
The vacation rental company said in a statement that it would cover the costs for the initiative, while also using funds from its Refugee Fund to address the "tremendous need" due to the "fast evolving" crisis in Afghanistan, according to the Washington Post.

Since Aug. 14, the United States has evacuated about 58,700 people from Kabul, with images showing their relief and exhaustion after facing violent clashes, Taliban fighters, and chaotic scenes at Kabul airport. Within just 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, about 21,600 people were evacuated on U.S. and coalition flights.
Chesky said it was the community’s hosts offering up their residences that made the idea truly possible, and asked people to sign up to accommodate a refugee family if they wanted to help those fleeing Taliban rule.


He also said he hoped that the company’s initiative would inspire “other business leaders to do the same."


“There’s no time to waste,” he said. -WaPo

And according to the New York Times, Airbnb placed 165 refugees in housing across the US - including California, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington State.

As a flood of refugees flee Afghanistan, the European Union said it would increase its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by over $175 million. According to the UN Refugee agency, UNHCR, there are approximately 2.5 million registered Afghan refugees who have fled the country - however, officials say the true figure is likely to be 'significantly higher.'

An estimated 30,000 Afghan refugees are reportedly headed to the United States, according to the Department of Defense.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/...otched-pullout

Why isn't Airbnb housing OUR citizens displaced by fires and floods!!!!

Let Saudi Arabia house and feed them and then send them back!

This is crazy. Can you imagine waking up one day and seeing Afghan refugees sitting on the porch next door watching your kids play?

I wonder if the Airbnb hosts have any say in this matter or if the Big Tech company just sticks them into their rentals?

Airbnb Will Give 20,000 Afghan Refugees Temporary Housing

Jonathan Franklin

August 24, 202111:09 AM ET


Airbnb says it will provide housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees around the world for free.


Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images


Airbnb says it will provide housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees around the world for free. The refugees will be staying in properties around the world listed on the company's website.


The stays are funded through contributions to Airbnb.org from Airbnb and Brian Chesky, Airbnb's CEO and co-founder, as well as donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, according to the company.


"As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives," Chesky said in a news release Tuesday. "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."


Last week, Airbnb.org gave emergency funding along with support to the International Rescue Committee, HIAS and Church World Service to provide immediate temporary stays through the Airbnb platform for up to 1,000 arriving Afghan refugees.


Over the weekend, the company worked with several partners to place 165 refugees in housing shortly after they arrived in the U.S.
"As the IRC helps to welcome and resettle Afghans in the U.S., accessible housing is urgently needed and essential," said David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee.


Within the last four years, both Airbnb and Airbnb.org have provided roughly 25,000 refugees with temporary housing. In June, Airbnb.org announced plans for a $25 million refugee fund to further expand its support of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.


https://www.npr.org/2021/08/24/10306...porary-housing