@Raymond96 the host said he would help refund the full amount, yes?
The host is not trying to get rid of you by asking you to go through AirBnB. He is telling you the thing you must do.
Going through AirBnB is the *only* way to get your refund, as AirBnB is the one holding your money.
Hopefully your communication with the host has been on the AirBnB messaging system so that can help explain to AirBnB customer service what is going on.
Contact AirBnB support and let them know you want to cancel and that the host has agreed to provide a full refund despite the Strict cancellation policy. They will double-check with the host, but if the host is agreeable, then you should get your full refund. (Depending on the timing, AirBnB may keep a portion of their fees.)