Airbnb announced that it will offer free accommodation for 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion on their territory. The platform will also work with European states to grant long-term stays.
According to a statement from Airbnb, heads of the San Francisco-based company have written to the governments of Romania, Germany, Poland and Hungary to offer help and shelter to the refugees. This accommodation will be financed by the company, in addition to the donors and hosts that are part of the platform.
It is estimated that close to 300,000 Ukrainians have left their country following the Russian military intervention that began on Thursday, February 24. However, the European Commission believes that figure could reach millions of people.
In 2021, Airbnb also helped relocate refugees from Afghanistan who fled the territory following the Taliban takeover. According to data provided by the company, at that time accommodation was sought for more than 21,000 people.
Ukraine currently has more than 17,000 short-term rentals, according to market research firm AirDNA.
A few days ago, hosts in the coastal city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, told the Bloomberg agency that “business was normal” and that guests continued to make reservations.
For this year, Airbnb has also set a goal of providing temporary accommodation to an additional 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
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