Desert respites (5)
I believe the answer is:
oases
'desert respites' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for oases that I've seen before include "Green desert spots" , "Where there may be dates" , "Fertile areas in deserts" , "Fertile desert spots" , "Fertile tracts in a desert" .)