General area for sufferers heading for shelter (7)

I believe the answer is:

leeward

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'heading for shelter' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'general area' is the wordplay.
'general' becomes 'Lee' (Robert E. Lee - US revolutionary commander).
'area' becomes 'ward'.
'lee'+'ward'='LEEWARD'

'for sufferers' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leeward that I've seen before include "Draw eel (anag.)" , "WI island group" , "Of ship, on side turned away from wind" , "place out of the wind" , "Islands" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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