On Friday we woke up into a windy morning, and left for the field early. Our mission is to obtain as much video and photographic material as possible, in order to show the world the difficult conditions the children are facing here.

The desert wind bared its teeth just as we intended to start shooting, making the conditions for work extremely difficult. Sand was everywhere: in the air, in our mouth and eyes, it even damaged some equipment. For the first time I truly realized the purpose and utility of scarves people wear in desert regions. I made use of it myself, covered my mouth and nose, and hid my eyes behind glasses.

We visited three families where children had lost one, or even both parents, and learned their life stories. At that occasion we also distributed the material donated by some Slovenian companies.

After lunch we went to the city market. We intended to film Moussa, a boy of 9, who has nine brothers and sisters. Their mother is providing for them by herself, as their father died. Moussa is making his living at the market, carrying heavy boxes and doing all kinds of hard physical labour.

At that time of the day there are a lot of people at the market, mostly males, and the traffic is chaotic. Just before the beginning of the shooting an outrages incident happened. While the director was explaining to the boy the details of the shooting, a stranger approached and right before our eyes physically attacked the boy. The UNICEF representative intervened immediately, stopped the man and tried to placate the situation, as it became very tense indeed. In the meantime the boy disappeared in the crowd. We were astonished and couldn't believe that such violence was possible in spite of the presence of adult people and representatives of UNICEF. We foreigners felt rather embarrassed, and powerless. The looks directed to us were often quite unfriendly – obviously the local shop owner didn't appreciate us filming in the vicinity of his shop.

UNICEF immediately informed the Kanem region governor of the incident, and the police were sent to help us with the shooting. Moussa had enough courage to come back and complete the shooting of the scene at the market.

Later I had the opportunity to visit his home and meet his family. They live in a very modest home, in very straitened circumstances and poverty. But in spite of the difficult circumstances I learned from our conversation that he had dreams, and big goals. He would like to have his own family, and become a minister in order to be in the position to help children in similar situations!

The itinerary of our third shooting day was very busy. We had a day to shoot the entire story of a mother with a malnourished child, the life of her family, and their visit at the Health Centre.

At first we visited their home and watched their usual day and mother's care of the children. During the interview we learned about their everyday problems. Next we went to the Health Centre to attend the medical check-up of the 8 months old Betrane.

The building where the Health Centre is located is rather modest. We saw at least a hundred mothers with their children patiently waiting for a check-up. The equipment the medical staff, a rarity in that area, use is rather modest as well. The check-up of an undernourished child consists of measuring the child's height, weight, and upper arm circumference which are positive signs of undernourishment. Then the appetite testing follows, and feeding.

Betrane's doctor told us that the child’s condition was improving. Three weeks ago, when the treatment started, his weight was only 5.6 kg, and until the last measurement it has increased to 6.2 kg. His mother was given therapeutic food and instructions for appropriate care of her son's health.

Betrane is just one of the numerous children whose vulnerability is much increased due to undernourishment. His immune system is undermined, consequently such children are more subjected to diseases. Their growth and development are hindered as well. The data that in Chad more than half of the children are affected by malnutrition is shocking.

In the field UNICEF is cooperating with a number of partners, and local non-governmental organisations. The number of the Health Centres in the Kanem region has increased during the last three years from 7 to 87, also with the help of the EU. Thus a larger number of children has access to treatment, as the Health Centres are closer to their homes. The vicinity of a Health Centre is of extreme importance, as the distances are great, and mothers often don't go, or head for a Health Centre too late, when nothing more can be done for a child.

Whenever we are shooting scenes outside, a large groups of natives gather. Children wave to us and smile a lot, while older people watch us warily. Often some of them approach and ask what we are doing. After the Friday incident at the market, and frequent unofficial controls by the locally important persons, I realized the importance of our visit at the governor's in the beginning of our mission, where we informed him of our intentions, and gained his support.

Our field work is half done. I am confident a lot has been achieved, and hope that we will be able to continue in the same manner in the days to come. We are rather tired, as the conditions are very difficult, and are changing daily. In spite of excellent planning we need to adapt to constant changes, demands from the natives, and their culture.