Withdrawals from the refuges (8)
I believe the answer is:
retreats
This clue is a double definition.
'withdrawals' is the first definition.
(retreat is a kind of withdrawal)
'the refuges' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for retreats that I've seen before include "Places that afford peace and quiet" , "Of army, falls back before enemy attack" , "Backs away" , "tactical withdrawals" , "Goes back, like defeated army" .)