Afghanistan: Airbnb to offer accommodation for 20,000 refugees

Airbnb has pledged to provide temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees worldwide.

In a statement, the online accommodation marketplace said it recognised a "humanitarian crisis" in which tens of thousands of Afghans have been forced to flee from their country."Where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives," Airbnb boss Brian Chesky wrote.

"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.”

The company said it will work closely with resettlement agencies and partners in its efforts to "go where the need goes" and "evolve [the] initiative" as necessary.

The cost of housing the refugees will be funded by Airbnb, Mr Chesky and donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

Many Afghans are desperate to escape Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as the August 31 US withdrawal troop deadline inches closer.

On Tuesday, the UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed nearly 8,500 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK since August 13, while the US has evacuated 37,000 people since August 16.

These numbers include both Afghan refugees and Western nationals.

On Tuesday, defence secretary Ben Wallace told ITV News that the UK is "ruthlessly prioritising ourselves" in evacuation efforts.He said those of highest priority are British passport holders, Afghans who've worked with the UK over the last 20 years, people who had high profile jobs and human and women's rights campaigners.