Airbnb users send money to Ukraine through reservations

Airbnb users have taken to booking lodging with Ukrainian hosts to help directly deliver aid after the Russian invasion

Thousands of Airbnb users have booked vacation rentals in war-battered Ukraine, not to visit but to provide aid to local hosts struggling to survive the Russian invasion.

Over a two-day period last week, some $1.9 million was spent on reservations for more than 61,000 nights in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the San Francisco-based company told AFP on Tuesday.

After booking their rentals on Airbnb, some users shared on social media the heart-stirring responses they received from Ukrainian hosts thanking them for financial and moral support.

"You have people that are in the middle of an active crisis," said Meghan Bamford, of Edmonton, Canada.

Bamford and her husband still donate to relief organizations, but said they used Airbnb to quickly get cash directly to Ukrainians.

Chief executive Brian Chesky has taken to Twitter to broadcast messages from users who have stepped up to help Ukrainian hosts.

"It's very humbling to sit at home in Canada, very safe and comfortable, and just realize that you're hearing from these people that are in the middle of everything you're seeing everywhere," Bamford told AFP.

Airbnb announced last week that it would offer free short-term stays to up to 100,000 people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

dho-gc/des

...