Thousands of Airbnb users have booked vacation rentals in Ukraine, not to visit the war-torn country, but to transfer donations to local hosts struggling to survive the Russian invasion.
During a two-day span last week, more than 61,000 hotel nights were booked in Ukraine worth about $1.9 million, a company spokesman told the Times. AFP.
The avalanche of aid came after Airbnb announced the suspension of its businesses in Russia and Belarus, and although the company did not start the campaign, it does actively support it.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has used Twitter to relay messages from users who have decided to support hosts in Ukraine.
An Aribnb user told the AFP that she and her husband booked in Kiev and Kharkov. “If you can get money directly to their accounts, this could make the difference between someone being forced to stay in and around Kiev or being able to escape,” she said.
Airbnb announced last week that it would offer free short stays to more than 100,000 people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
About 28,000 Airbnb hosts are providing accommodation for the refugees, and more than $1.2 million has been raised in the fund the company has set aside for their care, the company told AFP.
Source: Eluniverso
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