My company often supplies documentary audio recording gear for the conditions you are facing. Smallest, most durable, and highest quality recording is two piece windscreen headband mic + Sony PCM-M10 flash deck. Because of likely being around gunfire and loud vehicles, suggest DSM-6S/L model inside WHB/N windscreen headband that is wind, dust, rain resistant.
This is mic without WHB/N
This is mic inside headworn windscreen headband.
This mic system has been in high mountain climbing ambient, rainforests, deserts, Siberia, and just about anywhere people go without problems.
Recordings done with this mic found at:
Sonic Studios MP3 Page 1 with Ambient Stereo-Surround Composer, Nature Sounds, Musicology Recordings