Airbnb pledges free housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Online accommodation platform Airbnb on Tuesday announced that it would provide temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees worldwide.

"I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste," said chief executive Brian Chesky in a company statement.

The company will closely collaborate with resettlement agencies and partners in the effort it underlined.

"Airbnb urges fellow members of the global business community to join efforts to provide immediate support to Afghan refugees," it said.

The company has established its own independent non-profit, Airbnb.org, aiming at helping people share housing and resources in times of crisis.

Over this past weekend, Airbnb.org worked with partners to place 165 refugees in safe housing shortly after touching down in the US, according to the statement.

The Taliban movement seized control of Afghanistan after taking the capital Kabul on Aug. 15, forcing the Afghan president and other top officials to leave the country.

The unexpected power grab triggered a rush to flee Afghanistan, including civilians who assisted foreign soldiers or groups and now fear Taliban retribution.