Airbnb is providing free housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees following the Taliban takeover. The online marketplace for rental homes and properties made the revelation on Twitter on Tuesday, August 24, and called on others to open up their homes to people fleeing Afghanistan, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58315378">BBC News</a> reports. CEO of Airbnb Brian Chesky wrote on Twitter: "Starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free. "The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up. "I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/bchesky/status/1430067315228352512]] Chesky then reached out to people who could also host refugee families in their homes, adding: "While we will be paying for these stays, we 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!" [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/bchesky/status/1430067720427425793]] <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58315378">BBC News</a> reports that Airbnb will be funding the cost of the accommodation themselves as well as through donations from Chesky and donors from the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund. Per <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/airbnb-says-it-will-temporarily-house-20-000-afghan-refugees-globally-12389469">Sky News</a>, Airbnb's offer will be taken up immediately, and the company is already working with charities on the ground to ensure housing for Afghan refugees. <img class="wp-image-1263123901 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/Airbnb-1.jpg" alt="Afghan refugees are pictured waiting to board a plane to the United States." width="759" height="557" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Alamy / Planetpix]] The need for housing for refugees is a pressing one as a Taliban spokesperson said that the August 31 evacuation deadline was not flexible at a press conference in Kabul, <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/24/afghanistan-taliban-wants-all-foreign-evacuations-completed-by-august-31-15145199/">Metro</a> reports. Zabihullah Mujahid said: "August 31 is the time given and after that, it's something that is against the agreement. All people should be removed prior to that date. "After that, we do not allow them, it will not be allowed in our country, we will take a different stance." The <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2021/7/60ed3ba34/unhcr-warns-imminent-humanitarian-crisis-afghanistan.html">UN Refugee Agency</a> reported on July 13 that some 270,000 Afghans had been displaced amid the Taliban takeover, and a total of 3.5 million people have now been displaced. This is not the first time that Airbnb has used its service to help house refugees, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/24/airbnb-help-house-afghan-refugees">The Guardian</a> reports, and 75,000 people in need have been given a roof over their heads since 2012. <h6>Featured image credit: Alamy / True Images</h6>

Airbnb opens up free housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees after Taliban takeover

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