by Siham Shamalakh

　　GAZA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rust has eaten up most of the outer metal door of an old house where the 110-year-old Palestinian midwife lives. Elmeya Hamouda's house comprises two rooms in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

　　When she was 15, she married Jawar, a close relative of her. They lived happily until he died "decades ago."

　　"Things became harder and harder after his death," she spoke out, squeezing her face.

　　To continue "a respected" life, she learned nursery and midwifery from "experienced" older women. Things worked out in the flashpoint occupied territory, allowing Elmeya to assist dozens of women in labor at war time. This let her be famous in the neighborhoods she lived in.

　　Elmeya has never gone to school, but she did well in her job. Until today, some people would come asking her help when their wives are giving birth.

　　The first time she practiced this job was during the Ottoman rule on Gaza, which ended before 1920, she recalled. She eventually obtained a license when Gaza was under the Egyptian rule in 1950s.

　　"I was never paid for this job," she said. But some people used to give her gifts to her assistance. "I keep a special seal to ratify birth certificates of new born babies; this job gave me joy and delight."

　　As she grew older, Elmeya found it difficult to carry on smoothly, so she asked her daughters to learn and practice her job. They, except one of them, failed her dream by their refusal.

　　But one of her in-law daughters liked the idea and did her best to learn from Elmeya.

　　Elmeya says her daughter-in-law was no less professional than her to the extent that she became a real rival.

　　Midwifery has largely disappeared in the Gaza Strip long ago. There are lot of maternity centers in the coastal enclave that provide pregnant women with the needed medical assistance and awareness. But in some rural areas here, Elmeya and her competitors can still find work.

　　The 110-year-old woman significantly enjoys good health and memory though wrinkles tragically cover up most of her small face.

　　At her small house, she keeps a very old wheat grinder, a coal hearth and a primitive radio that kills her leisure. With the raddled house items, designs from the Ottoman era are reflected.

　　Elmeya bought her coffin. She does not fear death but she is preparing and waiting for it.

　　Now, she spends most of her time praying, reading Quran and " asking Allah to forgive me" for any minor sin she might had done.

　　In a worn out Palestinian costume, Elmeya has 150 grandsons and granddaughters. "My eldest daughter is 85 years old now and three of my sons died at an early age."