Humanitarian Support Group for NRENs
The Humanitarian Support Group for NRENs is an initiative from the GÉANT community that coordinates support for European NRENs facing severe and sustained crises including:
- War.
- Major infrastructure failure.
- Large-scale environmental or societal disruption.
It provides a structured and transparent mechanism to mobilise financial, technical, and community support when it is most urgently needed.
Why it was created
In recent years, the NREN community came together to support URAN, the Ukrainian NREN, through fundraising and practical assistance. While impactful, these efforts were largely ad hoc.
The Humanitarian Support Group was established to create a permanent, coordinated capability to respond effectively to long-lasting and large-scale crises, ensuring that community solidarity can be translated into sustainable action.
What the group does
The Humanitarian Support Group acts as a central coordination point between NRENs in need and those able to contribute.
Support may include:
- Financial assistance
Coordinated fundraising and donation initiatives. - Equipment and infrastructure
Emergency generators, networking equipment, and other critical resources. - Technical and strategic expertise
Operational, engineering, organisational, and advisory support from across the community. - Community solidarity initiatives
Engagement activities that strengthen morale and professional networks during difficult periods.
The group assesses needs, identifies available resources, and coordinates delivery to ensure support is relevant, timely, and transparent.
Current focus
URAN continues to operate under significant pressure. In close collaboration with URAN management, the group is further developing its operational framework while delivering ongoing, coordinated assistance to help maintain service continuity.
Why support URAN?
Ukraine is a country under attack, and while many Ukrainians are risking their lives to defend it, it is just as vital to keep everyday life and essential services functioning.
Children must still be able to go to school. Students must still be able to learn. Libraries and universities must remain open, connected, and able to serve their communities. Without this support, Ukraine risks losing an entire generation’s access to education, research, knowledge, and opportunity.
By supporting URAN, the Vietsch Foundation and the NREN Humanitarian Support Group help keep schools, universities, and libraries connected to the rest of the world. They ensure that these institutions can continue using the same digital tools and services as their counterparts elsewhere in Europe.
Supporting URAN is therefore not only about the network. It is about preserving education, research, resilience, and Ukraine’s future.
Get involved
The effectiveness of the Humanitarian Support Group depends on active participation from the NREN community.
For enquiries, support requests, or offers of contribution, please get in touch via the contact form.
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