Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati rebuffed critics accusing the government of standing idly by the capsized asylum-seeker boat issue, noting that the government has been keeping low profile while dealing with this tragedy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mikati voiced regret that some politicians were exploiting this issue to mark political gains, defending his government as "dealing with this disaster from a humanitarian perspective."

The statement also noted that the cabinet has been following up on the issue from the beginning, stressing it has been contacts with Indonesian authorities in coordination with the Lebanese Charge d'Affaires Joanna Qazzi and Lebanon's Ambassador to Malaysia Ali Daher.

Highlighting the Lebanese embassy's efforts to meet the needs of the survivors, the statement said that DNA tests are underway in order to identify the victims' bodies.

The test results are expected to be released in around a month, added the statement.