Refuge

Refuge is a place or state that provides shelter and protection from danger, distress, or persecution. It can be a physical space such as a shelter, sanctuary, or haven, or a more abstract condition of safety. Refuges can be temporary or long-term and may be provided by governments, organizations, communities, or individuals.

In humanitarian and legal contexts, a refugee is a person who has fled persecution or serious harm and seeks protection across an international border. Asylum is the protection granted by a state. International law, notably the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, governs the rights and responsibilities of refugees and host states. Some people are internally displaced, seeking refuge within their own country rather than across a border.

In ecology, refugia are places where species persist during periods of environmental stress, such as climate change or habitat loss. These refugia can support genetic diversity and serve as sources for recolonization after disturbances.

Other uses of the term include disaster preparedness and architecture, where designated refuges or shelters are built to protect people during emergencies. In literature and everyday language, “refuge” can also denote a safe retreat or a figurative escape from danger or trouble, as in seeking refuge from a threatening situation.