The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday agreed to joint investigations with Ethiopia into possible war crimes committed in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray.

“The High Commissioner responded positively to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) request for joint investigations on Monday,” Jonathan Fowler, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office told AFP.

There are reports from residents of sexual violence and indiscriminate killings of civilians by security forces in the region. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to Tigray in November to confront the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for attacks on army camps.

In late November, federal forces took over the regional capital of Mekele, though the fighting between TPLF leaders and federal forces continue.

UN officials estimate that 4.5 million people need humanitarian assistance.